By Libya Herald reporter.
Benghazi, 5 November 2016:
The bodies of two members of what was 204 Tank Battalion have been found near Al-Abyar, 50 kilometres east of Benghazi. According to a Libyan National Army (LNA) source, they bore signs of torture .
The two were reported missing earlier this week.
The brigade was formerly commanded by Colonel Al-Mahdi Al-Barghathi, now acting minister of defence in the Presidency Council’s Government of National Accord. It has been renamed as 298 Battalion and a new commander, Abdulkarim Hussein Barghathi, appointed in a bid by the LNA to break its ties with Barghathi. However, a number of members have remained loyal to him.
The two have been named as Ayad Suweih and Miakaial Jirari
In a statement today, the defence ministry in Tripoli condemned the killings saying that Suwaieh had been killed after being held prisoner for two days and that it would “not stand idly by with what is going on, with kidnappings, torture, assassinations and a violation of the sanctity of innocent” in Benghazi.
Meanwhile, in Benghazi’s Benina area, a house was slightly damaged today when in an attack aimed at the neighbouring airport. Another mortar landed in open ground. There were no casualties.
Militants are presumed to be responsible although the location from which the attack was launched is unknown.
Their presence and ability to continue firing at the airport, which also serves as an air force base, continues to delay its reopening.
