By Libya Herald staff.
Benghazi, 23 November 2014:
The Libyan National Army (LNA) claims to have seized control of 80 . . .[restrict]percent of Benghazi despite continuing clashes in the city between the Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council (BRSC) and pro-government forces.
Residents have reported relative calm across the east of the city where traffic police and the army have been deployed in force.
Commander of the LNA’s air forces Adam Saqr Geroushi, said that the government was now in control of the greater part of Benghazi. He told the Libya Herald that the main resistance, at least in the centre of the city, was in Sabri, Laithi and Garyounis.
In Sabri, where the LNA has been battling to break into Benghazi’s seaport, Geroushi said pro-government forces were “starving out” a few remaining snipers. Yesterday marines seized a boat trying to bring supplies to Ansar Al-Sharia fighters there.
The LNA commander said the army’s greatest gains in recent days had been made in Bel Awn, where again, he said, a much depleted BRSC force was all that remained.
Geroushi also explained that warplanes and helicopters under his command today carried out airstrikes on Benghazi’s Laithi and Garyounis districts.
Despite progress by LNA forces in the east and central Benghazi, they have yet to make any meaningful inroads into the west of the city. Gwarsha and Hawari in particular are long-held BRSC strongholds where the LNA has gained little ground.
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