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| Africa North |
| Fighting starts near Tamenhint airbase in southern Libya |
| 2017-03-21 |
| Benghazi, 20 March 2017: The road from Jufra to Sebha has been blocked as the Libyan National Army (LNA) mounts an assault on the Tamenhint airbase held by the Misratan Third Force. Reports that the LNA were also advancing on Sebha were denied by the town’s mayor. The Libyan air force carried out a series of air strikes in advance of the assault which is being led by General Mohamed Ben Nail. LNA sources have told this newspaper that armed forces commander-in-chief Khalifa Hafter has now deployed the 12th, 181th, 116th, 121th Brigades for the advance. The mayor of Sebha, Hamed Rafeh, told the Libya Herald that his town had so far been unaffected by the attack, more than 30 kms north in Tamenhint. Nonetheless, he said he would be happy to see the Third Force pull out, so long as the LNA present themselves as a fully-functioning, disciplined force capable of protecting Sebha’s population. Unfortunately however a Turkish citizen was abducted today outside the PVC factory where he worked. According to Alwasat, the kidnappers demanded LD 20,000 which appears to have been paid very quickly, perhaps to quickly. The gang then refused to release the man, who has not been named, and have instead demanded a new ransom of LD 200,000. |
| Posted by:badanov |