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By Jamal Adel.
Tripoli, 15 December 2014:
Tebu troops, aligned with the Libyan government, have launched an attack on pro-Libya Dawn Tuareg militants . . .[restrict]at Tendi Mountain near Obari.
Tebu brigade commander Yahya Imurbo told the Libya Herald via satellite phone that the battle, which began early Sunday morning was continuing.
“We have started our assault in order to cleanse the area of pro-Libya Dawn militias by attacking the mountain from three fronts,” Imurbo said, adding that the power and telecommunications services have been cut and the few families remaining in the area have fled to safety.
Tebu forces took control of Tendi Mountain—the main strategic stronghold of the Tuaregs—on 23 November, but were quickly pushed out a few hours later by heavy artillery and missile fire.
Since the fighting started in Obari in early September, traffic, business operations and daily life have been brought to a standstill.
This latest Tebu offensive on Tendi Mountain comes just after the partial evacuation from Sebha of the Misratan Third Force. However, the nearby Sharara oilfield, which was captured in early November, remains under Libya Dawn control through the occupation of Tuareg and Misratan joint forces.
It is expected that the Tebus will attempt to push Libya Dawn forces out and retake the oilfeld.
The fight in Obari is seen by many as a reflection of the conflict between Operation Dignity and Libya Dawn along the coast.
It is now strongly suspected that Islamists from either Libya or the former Azawad Liberation Movement in Mali are leading this conflict which is widening the dangerous gap between the Tebu and Tuareg tribes. [/restrict]
