Battle for control of Benghazi, Libya, erupts

BENGHAZI, Libya, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Benghazi, Libya, saw gunfire and airstrikes in an attempt by forces loyal to former Gen. Khalifa Haftar to reclaim the city from Islamist militias.

Witnesses Wednesday said Haftar's forces targeted one of the several armed groups roaming the city, the Feb. 17 Martyrs Brigade, which is aligned with Ansar al-Sharia, in turn aligned with al-Qaida. Whether Egyptian aircraft took part in the assault was a topic of disagreement.

Libyan Foreign Ministry spokesman told the news website Ahram Online Egyptian planes were not involved, but earlier reports claimed the planes, flown by Libyan pilots, took part.

A Libyan politician, Abdul Rahman Sweihli, told Al-Jazeera the Libyan air force was incapable of launching such an attack.

"We know very well the limited power of the Libyan air force and we know it is quite impossible for the Libyan air force to shell the city of Benghazi and another areas on a daily basis. This is way above what they are capable of. This clearly shows a direct and blatant interference by the governments of Egypt and the UAE (United Arab Emirates)."

Both the Libyan and Egyptian governments have expressed approval of Haftar's mission, named Operation Dignity, to regain control in cities controlled by Islamist militias, although Egyptian state media denied involvement in the attack Wednesday.

Egypt is concerned over a potential spillover of the fighting from neighboring Libya, the Jordan-based news agency Al Bawaba noted.

A spokesman for Libya's relatively weak army, controlled by the country's House of Representatives, said Wednesday it approved of Haftar's actions in Benghazi.

Insurgencies have taken control of Libya since the removal in 2011 of leader Moammar Gadhafi. As the national government weakened, Islamist militias were empowered, taking control of the capital of Tripoli. At least 12 people died in the Wednesday attacks.