By Libya Herald staff.
20 October 2014:
A senior Zintani military source claimed today that his forces would move towards Tripoli next week. . . .[restrict]Speaking to the Libya Herald, he said that they were currently holding their positions in both the Jebel Nafusa and the Warshefana distict but that there would be movement in the next few days once orders came from the General Staff. Meanwhile, he added, they had captured a leading Libya Dawn commander near Gharian.
The Zintan source also claimed that Misratan forces were taking little part in the clashes on the western front. They had pulled out, he said, and headed south or east.
Appearing to confirm at least this last part of the claims, there have been separate reports that several hundred Mistratan military vehicles headed to Obari this weekend intent on ending the continuing clashes there between pro-HoR Tebus and a pro-Libya Dawn Tuareg group. They are also said to be planning to try and secure oilfields in the area for Libya Dawn.
Separately, there are reports of a column of Islamist fighters from Misrata belonging to the Al Farouq Brigade arriving near Gemenis south of Benghazi to help Ansar Al-Sharia combat Operation Dignity forces in the city.
The Zintani claims of gains in the Jebal Nafusa and the Warshefana area have been vigorously denied by Libya Dawn. However, it appears that the latter are taking no chances. There are reports this evening of roads west of Janzour being blocked with sand barriers.
Nonetheless, the Libyan political scene has been repeatedly marked in recent months by claims of attacks about to be launched on specific dates, only to see them either pass without incident or turn into military gridlock. [/restrict]
