By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 8 January 2015:
The Libyan army has used helicopters in fierce fighting over the last 48 . . .[restrict]hours around Ben Jawad and claims to have inflicted heavy casualties on Libya Dawn forces.
Chief of staff spokesman Colonel Ahmed Al-Mismari told the Libya Herald that this was the first time that helicopters had been deployed in the battle. He claimed that Dawn fighters had sustained “immense losses”.
Mismari said that the enemy was manoeuvering to try and attack the Petroleum Facilities Guards, who are reported to have suffered at least three dead.
Central Petroleum Facilities Guard spokesperson Ali Al-Hassi told this newspaper that the fighting had been intense.
A reporter from Ajdabiya who has been in the area said that the Misratan reinforcements, which included tanks and other heavy weapons, were attacked by LNA aircraft and had taken refuge in surrounding farms.
Meanwhile, fresh airstrikes by the LNA air force were reported on targets in Sirte this morning. The raids are said to have been aimed at Ansar Al-Sharia positions on the eastern outskirts of the town.
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