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By Ibrahim Drissi.
Benghazi, 5 August 2016:
Two separate offensives by the Derna mujahideen against units linked to the Libyan National Army (LNA) have left at least 12 members of the latter dead, according to Abdul Karim Abdulkarim Sabra, now the welfare spokesman for the Omar Mukhtar Operations Room.
Eight LNA fighters from 276 Brigade and a volunteer unit were killed and another 19 wounded when the mujahideen launched a surprise attack against them south west of Derna very early this morning, he said. The bodies of another four who were initially listed among eight missing in the fight were later found by the Red Crescent. They had been summarily shot, he claimed.
The other fighting took place some 15 kilometres west of Derna, on the coast road towards Ras Hilal along which there is supposed to be a ceasefire. According to Sabra, the mujahideen launched an attack at Wadi Al-Naga on two LNA-linked units based in Ras Hillal and Kirisah. In response, he said, the LNA had sent 40 armed vehicles to the place and were now in control of it.
Responding to the fighting south west of Derna, the LNA also launched fresh airstrikes against suspected mujahideen positions, with the Omar Mukhtar Operation Room declaring that the bombardment would be intensified.
For their part, the mujahideen are reported claiming that rather than an offensive on their part south of Derna, they repelled one by the LNA.
No figures for mujahideen casualties have been announced.
