- Title: Libya's eastern commander declares victory in battle for Benghazi
- Date: 5th July 2017
- Summary: BENGHAZI, LIBYA (JULY 5, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EAST LIBYAN FORCES FIGHTING SHOTS BEING FIRED FROM DRIVING VEHICLE VARIOUS OF TANKS FIRING VARIOUS OF VEHICLES ON ROAD EAST LIBYAN FORCES WATCHING / TANK DRIVING ALONG SHORE TANK DRIVING VARIOUS OF MAN LOADING TANK VARIOUS OF ARMOURED VEHICLES DRIVING VARIOUS OF EAST LIBYAN FORCES WITH WEAPONRY BACK OF ONE OF EAST LIBYAN FORCES' SHIRT EAST LIBYAN FORCES GATHERED (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EAST LIBYAN FORCES COLONEL, WANEES BUKHAMADA, SAYING: "We attacked around half an hour ago, we have many fallen and wounded soldiers. We are special forces, and we've known exactly when terrorism began, it wasn't recently, it was since 1989. ISIS know us well, terrorists know us well, and we continue to bear the responsibility because of these martyrs (those killed in fighting), may God rest their souls in peace." DAMAGED BUILDINGS VARIOUS OF FORCES ARRIVING TO AREA WHERE FIGHTING TAKES PLACE STREET SCENE IN SABRI DISTRICT SHOWING EXTENT OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY FIGHTING
- Embargoed: 20th July 2017 00:57
- Keywords: Libya Security Benghazi Fighting
- Location: BENGHAZI, LIBYA
- City: BENGHAZI, LIBYA
- Country: Libya
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice
- Reuters ID: LVA0016OG0LDZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Libya's eastern commander Khalifa Haftar said on Wednesday (July 5) his forces had taken full control of Libya's second city Benghazi from rival armed groups after a three-year campaign.
The battle for Benghazi between Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) and an array of Islamist militants and other fighters has been part of a broader conflict since Libya slipped into chaos following the 2011 fall of strongman Muammar Gaddafi.
Victory would mark a major advance for the former Gaddafi ally who has slowly gained ground in eastern and southern Libya in defiance of a U.N.-backed government in the west in the capital Tripoli that is struggling to extend its influence.
Haftar, who has made little secret of ambitions to enter Tripoli against rivals there he portrays as Islamist militants, has backing from foreign powers, including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, and has cultivated closer ties with Moscow.
Although weakened, the unity government in Tripoli enjoys the support of most Western powers as the only institution capable of halting the OPEC state's slide into further chaos and conflict. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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