By Ayman Amzein.
Benghazi, 24 May 2015:
Three soldiers have been killed yesterday and today in continuing clashes in Bengahzi’s Leithi and Sabri . . .[restrict]districts, a source at Jalaa Hopsital told the Libya Herald. Another 13 had been injured.
The current Libyan National Army (LNA) operation, codenamed Lion Fist, to try and smash Ansar Al-Sharia and other Islamist forces in the Benghazi Revolutionaries’ Shoura Council (BRSC) in Leithi as well as central and south Benghazi, has taken a heavy toll in soldiers lost or wounded over the past week. The latest casualties bring the number of dead for the week to at least 17 dead and 97 wounded.
Casualty numbers for the BRSC are unknown.
The battle for the districts remains relentless.
Yesterday, a convoy of new armoured vehicles belonging to Tobruk’s 309 Brigade was seen heading to Gwarsha where it spearheading LNA operations. The brigade is also leading the fight in Gunfudah, Um Mabrouka and Mreisa.
Meanwhile today, there were heavy air strikes against BRSC targets in Garyounis. The area is currently something of a no-man’s-land. Although BRSC forces were forced to pull out by the LNA, the latter says the area remains too exposed to move back in permanently and that, as a result, BRSC forces make regular forays into it. [/restrict]
