Rival Libya militias clash, 10 killed

At least 10 people have been killed and over two dozens wounded after fierce clashes broke out between rival militia groups in Libya’s eastern restive city of Benghazi, official sources say.

According to medical and military officials, forces loyal to former renegade General Khalifa Haftar engaged in heavy fighting with the so-called Ansar al-Sharia, comprising armed Salafi militias, in Benghazi on Saturday.

The fatal clashes erupted when Ansar al-Sharia men attempted to take control of a civilian and military airport which is currently in the hands of Haftar’s militia forces in the Benina area in Benghazi.

Reports indicate 10 militiamen loyal to Hafter were killed and 25 others injured when grad rockets struck the Benghazi airport amid the clashes.

The crisis in Libya is worsening as fighting between rival militia groups continue and political divisions become deeper.

Haftar launched a military offensive in the country’s east on May 16, vowing to crush the militants and “establish stability in Libya.” Libyan authorities have denounced Haftar’s attack as a “coup” bid.

Over the past days, the Libyan capital Tripoli has also been the scene of intense battles between rival militia groups over the control of the city’s International Airport.

Nearly three years after the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in a popular uprising in 2011, Libya is still grappling with rising insecurity.

Armed militant groups, who have refused to lay down arms, are now turning their guns on each other in an attempt to dominate politics and the country’s vast oil resources.

MKA/NN/AS