(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff)
General Khalifa Haftar’s forces were able to gain control of areas around Benghazi that were taken over by Shura Council of the Benghazi Revolutionaries (SCBR) fighters.
Khalifa Al-Obeidi, spokesperson for Haftar’s forces, said Al-Gwarcha is now under Haftar’s control.
“We are presently pursuing terrorists who are entrenched 1km east,” said Obeidi.
Haftar’s forces fighting in Al-Gwarcha lost 6 fighters, 4 of them died as a result of a landmine explosion, according to Obeidi.
Haftar continues to fight for the control of all of Benghazi but managed until this point has only been able to gain control over a number of areas in Benghazi in the last few months.
In early 2015 Libya’s Tobruk-based parliament created a new army chief and appointed Haftar to this position. But after many months it is unclear as to who is making the decisions. Haftar has repeatedly rejected the authority of the UN-backed unity government based in the Libyan capital Tripoli.
Recent reports revealed that Haftar has been receiving support from United Nations (UN) member states, such as France, Britain, Italy and the United States, despite the UN having threatened to impose an arms embargo on Haftar.
