Islamists make fresh gains in Benghazi

摘要

The Al-Saiqa unit in Benghazi suffered a significant defeat on 29 July, when its headquarters was overrun by a coalition of Islamist groups including the radical Ansar al-Sharia. Al-Saiqa comamnder Wani Abu Khamadah acknowledged that his forces had withdrawn from the base in after days of heavy fighting that resulted in widespread damage to Benghazi's Bu Atni district. Al-Saiqa is loyal to the renegade former general Khalifa Haftar and was supported by Libyan Air Force aircraft flying from the Binina Airbase outside Benghazi. The air force confirmed that it lost a MiG-21 during the fighting, attributing the crash to a technical malfunction, rather than ground fire. It said the pilot ejected safely.