Khalifa Hifter says Benghazi ′liberated from terrorism

Libya′s Benghazi ′liberated,′ says rival strongman Khalifa Hifter | News | DW | 05.07.2017

Libya’s eastern commander Khalifa Hifter claims full control of Benghazi after a high-casualty campaign to evict jihadist groups from the city. He does not recognize the UN-backed government in Tripoli.

Libya’s second city of Benghazi had been liberated, Hifter announced on television, hours after his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) said it had cornered remaining jihadists in a central city district of Al-Sabri.

“We announce to you the liberation of Benghazi from terrorism,” he said, while thanking all who “supported us.”

His speech was followed by what was described as “celebratory gunfire” and fireworks

Hifter, once an ally of long-time Libyan autocrat Moammar Gadhafi who was ousted and killed in 2011, reputedly draws his backing from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

On television, he pledged a new era of “stability, prosperity and peace” for Benghazi while acknowledging heavy LNA casualties, saying a “caravan of martyrs” had fallen in battle to evict jihadists.

They overran the city three years ago, resisting what they saw as his military rule.