By Ayman Amzein.
Benghazi, 1 July, 2016:
The Libya National Army (LNA) says that it has now taken complete control of the south Benghazi district of Ganfuda, including the Nowruz beach which was still being used by the militants until a few days ago to ferry in goods and ammunition and take out wounded and fleeing fighters. The LNA also claims that most of Gwarsha is also now under its control although today, loud explosions could be heard coming from the district.
One of the places it says it took today is the roundabout next to the pipe factory.
In the fight for Ganfouda, it is reported that six LNA soldiers, mainly from 204 Brigade, were killed and another 15 injured.
Among those reportedly killed among the militants was a Libya Islamic State (IS) commander, known as Abu Abdullah Al-Ansari. According to the Libyan news agency LANA, his real name was Hamouda Al-Tirah.
A senior source within the LNA also says that once the south of Benghazi is fully liberated, it will turn its attention to dealing with the pockets of resistance still in city centre, in Suq Al-Hout and Sabri.
The LNA’s spokesman, Colonel Ahmed Misrmari, has meanwhile said that reports by Basil Igtet of a two-week ceasefire agreed between the LNA and the mujahideen in Derna are untrue. General Hafter had not agreed to anything and Igtet’s ideas about a ceasefire were purely his own.
Igtet, a successful businessman with political ambitions, is from Derna and revisited it recently for talks with the Islamist mujahideen, encouraging them to take part in a ceasefire.
