By Moutaz Ali.
Tripoli, 17 January 2017:
Sirte’s one and only brigade, No. 604, which has been part of the Misrata-led Bunyan Marsous forces that freed the town from the so-called Islamic State (IS), has accused the Muslim Brotherhood, the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) and the Benghazi Defence Brigades (BDB) of planing to retake it. They claim that it is to be useed as a forward operating base to launch attacks against the Libyan National Army led by Field Marshal Khalifa Hafter.
In a statement, the brigade insisted members would keep their distance from political factions. “The brigade No. 604 is far removed from any political polarisations running in Libya, as we only call for reform,” it said.
“The Muslim Brotherhood organisation, LIFG and BDB are seeking seriously to once again sneak into the town by using money in order to start a new war against the east,” 604 stated, adding that plan included enticing younger people from Misrata into the conspiracy.
The statement warned all Libyans of the renewed threat and dangers of reentering the town.
Participants of the brigade largely come from the Furjani tribe, among the original residents of Sirte. The brigade has joined the Misrata-led Bunyan Marsus forces in their war against the so-called Islamic State (IS) in the area.
Ideologically the brigade is Salafi and adheres to the teachings of Saudi cleric Rabhee Al-Madkhali and appears to have developed a good relationship with the Libyan National Army in the east led by Marshal Field Khalifa Hafter.
