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By Maha Suliman and Adam Ali.
Benghazi, 22 December 2014:
Heavy fighting in Benghazi’s Leithi district has left at least three dead, possibly . . .[restrict]seven, after the Libyan National Army (LNA) this morning launched a major assault on the area, which is described as a stronghold of Ansar Al-Sharia.
An army source from inside the area stated that three were dead and 30 injured from the LNA’s side. However, Hawari Hospital which is open only for emergencies has said that it had received the bodies of four LNA soldiers killed in the fighting in Leithi. It named them as Mustafa Saleh Teka, Ahmad Ageela, Saleh Makhlouf and Belgassem Mohamed El-Faitouri. It also said it was treating 28 wounded LNA men .
It was believed that Ansar Al-Sharia had also sustained heavy losses.
The area, long-viewed by the army as an Ansar Al-Sharia stronghold, has been surrounded by LNA forces for around a month. However, today’s operation, which reportedly started in the early hours of the morning, is being described by local people as one of the biggest offensives since fighting started in October.
One local resident said that all roads to Leithi had been sealed off by LNA units and anyone attempting to use side-roads, even to access other areas of the city, were being turned back. “I saw large numbers of the army entering Leithi, with guns and vehicles,” he said. “It looked like they were preparing for a big battle.”
A resident in a nearby area said that the sound of heavy gunfire and shelling had been heard all morning and into the afternoon. He added that the sound of a drone could also now be heard, monitoring the area. [/restrict]
