By Saber Ayyub.
Tripoli, 16 May 2015:
Misrata’s Zawiat Al-Mahjoub brigade and fighters from Harawa are reported to have launched an operation against . . .[restrict]Nufaliya, 127 kilometres east of Sirte, currently held by Islamic State (IS) supporters. It follows Thursday’s IS attack on Harawa, during which it seized two local youths, took them back to Nufaliya and beheaded them.
In today’s operation, said to have included 70 armed vehicles, the combined forces are reported to have attacked IS forces holed up in the centre of Nufaliya.
Prior to the assault two days ago, Harawa elders called on Misrata for help against IS, fearing an attack. Nufaliya is just 70 kilometres away and Harawa fighters had already been involved in clashes with the jihadists. The request was again repeated after Thurday’s attack, and the Mahjoob brigade has responded positively.
Yesterday, Saturday, IS forces thought to be based in Derna again attacked the Libyan National Army (LNA) checkpoint at Lamludada near Guba. Two mortars were fired towards it, but no one was injured. [/restrict]
