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By Aymen Amzein.
Benghazi, 17 February 2016:
General Khalifa Hafter chaired a meeting today of top military officials at Benghazi’s Benina airbase to . . .[restrict]review operations against militants in the city. All those involved in the campaign were present, including head of general staff Major General Abdul Razzaq Al-Nazhuri, air force chief Brigadier General Saqr Geroushi, Dignity operations room commander Brigadier General Abdul Salam Hassi and Colonel Wanis Bukhamada, head of Saiqa special forces.
The one noticeable absence was the commander of the all-important 204 Tank Brigade which has borne much of the brunt of fighting in the city. Colonel Mahdi Al-Barghathi, has been appointed defence minister in the national unity government. Despite having joined Hafter’s Operation Dignity, the appointment is not to Hafter’s liking and Barghathi is regarded with deep suspicion by the general and his supporters.
Today’s meeting also addressed the issue of treatment of the wounded, according to a military spokesman. The prohibition on military officials speaking to the media without authorisation was also reconfirmed.
The battle for Benghazi has been going on for over a year and a half and still shows no sign of ending, with the militants regularly supplied with fresh munitions, men and money by boat from Misrata.
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