| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa North |
| Benghazi's Saiqa Special Forces join Hafter's 'Dignity Operation' |
| 2014-05-22 |
| [Libya Herald] Saiqa Special Forces ...Libya's elite army unit, insofar as they have one, formed from a mixture of paratroopers and commandos. The group emerged from a militia with the same name in 2010. It now numbers a few thousand and reports to the Ministry of Defence. It deployed in Benghazi in an attempt to control the carnage. As a result, it has been attacked and several of its officers murdered. The force is popular in Benghazi for its stance against Ansar al-Sharia group... in Benghazi have thrown their weight behind General Khalifa Hafter and his Libyan National Army saying they will "strike with an iron hand" all those who stand against the revolution. Speaking at a brief televised presser this evening Benghazi Special Forces Commander Wanis Bukhamada said the 'Dignity Operation', the name given by Hafter to his crackdown on Islamist brigades in Benghazi, was "the work of the people" and that attacks against the homeland would be "crushed by the people's will". He said that the members of Saiqa had themselves suffered at the hands of what he called "criminal takfiri ...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who most be killed... gangs", a reference to Islamist groups including Ansar Al-Sharia, and had "struggled continuously over the last year and a half to beat terrorism". Bukhamada said ultimately "it should be us or them" and that the Special Forces supported the building of the state and the construction of a free Libya. Saiqa forces remained, at least nominally, neutral during festivities on Friday between forces loyal to General Khalifa Hafter and Ansar Al-Sharia and February 17 Brigade. Special forces clashed with Ansar Al-Sharia at the beginning of this month when the latter attempted an assault on Benghazi Security Directorate. |
| Posted by:Fred |