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| Africa North |
| LNA claims to cut coastal highway west of Tripoli |
| 2015-04-23 |
| [LibyaHerald] Heavy fighting ... as opposed to the more usual name-calling or slapsy... between Libya Dawn ...aka Fajr Libya, the Islamist operation launched to counter that of General Khalifa Haftar (Operation Dignity). It is made up of the Libya Shield militia (Misrata and Moslem Brotherhood), Libya Revolutionaries Operations Room (Moslem Brotherhood), and Tripoli Brigade (close to Abdul Hakim Belhaj, head of Al-Watan party). Financing and moral support come from Turkey and Qatar... forces and those of the Libyan National Army (LNA) have continued today at a number of locations west and south west of Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... The LNA says it has taken Zahra, 30 kilometres from Tripoli International Airport and one of the main towns in the Warshafana area. It also claims to have closed the coastal highway at Bridge 27, between Tripoli and Zawia. The bridge is next to Camp 27, itself much fought over last summer but since then held by Libya Dawn. Libya Dawn media confirm the capture of Zahra and of festivities near the highway which it says has been shelled by the LNA. But it counter claims that it closed the coastal road for security reasons. The developments follow unconfirmed reports that the largest Libya Dawn, Al-Halboos, from Misrata, has pulled out its forces in the district after agreement with Warshfana elders. Rumours of negotiations between the Misratans and the Zintanis and Warshefana have been circulating for several days. Elsewhere, it is reported from Sabratha that two local Dawn fighters were killed in fierce festivities south of the historic town. Sabratha supports Dawn. There are also continuing festivities near Gharyan at Hosh Siteen and Abu Sheiba. An agreement is reported between Zintan and Gharyan on exchanging the bodies of their dead fighters. UPDATE: The coastal highway was reported reopened this evening. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |