By Libya Herald reporter.
Malta, 8 February 2015:
Reports that the Karama/Libyan National Army (LNA) in Benghazi control 90 percent of the city . . .[restrict]and have pushed the Benghazi Shoura Council (BSC) coalition from Suq Al-Hout (the fish market) are premature, sources confirmed to Libya Herald today.
Last week Libya Herald quoted a military source from Benghazi saying that the army had initially taken the Suq il Hoot area. But later the source reported that the army withdrew from the area. It now seems that the army has not been able to hold the area.
The Suq Al-Hout-Sabri area, a continuation north along the coast from the port area, is an important enclave for the BSC-Ansar Sharia coalition, as it would be the only remaining piece of territory in under their control in the heart of Benghazi.
Yesterday, fighting intensified further on a number of fronts. LNA air force commander Saqr Adam Geroushi told the Libya Herald that fighting was taking place in Buhdeima, Buatni, Leithi, Ganfouda, Gwarsha, Halees and Sabri. As well as tanks and missiles being used, helicopters had been deployed to bomb Ansar positions, particularly in Buatni and Hawari.
The decision to attack on multiple fronts came from operation Dignity leader Khalifa Haftar, Geroushi said, after 210 fully armed fighters had arrived at Ganfouda (south of the city) by boat from Misrata to reinforce Ansar Al-Sharia.
And even though Colonel Mohamed Hejazi, spokesman for Operation Dignity, told Libya Herald that yesterday’s fighting was the start of a “decisive” battle to finally destroy Ansar Al-Sharia in the city, he confirmed that he did not know when the battle would finish.
It is for this reason that some analysts feel that the predictions that Benghazi will be cleared of the BSC coalition forces very soon, could be premature. They may be pushed out of the central densely urbanized area of Benghazi, but they may take longer to dislodge from the widespread periphery of the city.
Equally, the BSC-Ansar coalition have access to many possible landing points south beyond Ganfouda along the coast through which to receive further reinforcements.
It is also thought that they may start to avoid the open confrontational tactic of fighting and may resort to hit and run and guerilla type urban warfare. Mutaz Gedalla, a Benghazi resident, active blogger (www.wakeupbenghazi.com) and close follower and mapper of the Benghazi battles, felt that the LNA may not be in control of as much as 90 percent of central Benghazi just yet (see Gedalla’s map).
Gedalla, who says he drives around Benghazi every day, confirmed to Libya Herald today that the LNA control the port, but that fighting was still going on in the Suq Il Hoot area north of Benghazi port. Freedom square was still under Ansar control he added.
He confirmed that there are safe areas for residents to drive in now, after the LNA had cleared them from the BSC forces. ”All areas controlled by the (LNA) army are safe. But areas where there are clashes are not safe, as well as areas in Ansar control’’, he added.
Asked about the mood of the residents, Gedalla said that they were mixed. ‘’People have mixed feelings. They are happy that the army is going to take control, and kind of unhappy with the mass destruction of the city (as a result of the fighting).
Many families are refugees now’’, he explained ‘’and it will take time for the maintenance (of their properties) to be enable them to return’’.
”Yes it’s safe to walk and drive in areas controlled by the army. Yes, every day I drive around. It is just normal life. It is safe with a lot of traffic from 11 am – 5 pm’’, he added. [/restrict]
