News / North Africa

Bomb attack kills eight soldiers in Libya

Monday, 19 December 2016 11:15 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 19 December 2016 11:25 AM ]

This image shows troops loyal to General Khalifa Haftar advancing toward the area of Ganfouda, south of Benghazi, on November 30, 2016. (By AFP)

A bombing attack near the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi has killed eight soldiers.

Security and health officials said on Sunday that another eight soldiers had been wounded in the attack in the Ganfouda district near Benghazi.

Daesh Takfiris, who are under siege in the district, claimed responsibility for the Sunday night bombing.

Ahmed al-Mosmari, a spokesman for troops loyal to Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, said the bombing took place as the troops were advancing to retake the district in “its last stage.”

He said the “terrorist group leaders are besieged inside” the district.

Ganfouda is held by Daesh militants — who are otherwise mainly concentrated in Iraq and Syria — and Haftar’s loyalists have it under siege.

General Khalifa Haftar (2nd-R) (photo by AFP)

Libya has two rival governments. General Haftar is linked to the government based in the eastern port city of Tobruk. A rival government, backed by the United Nations (UN), is based in Tripoli, the main port city in the western side of the country.

Despite attempts to establish peace and order, stability has not been restored in Libya, and the country is still gripped by political strife and violence.

Libya plunged into violence in 2011, when long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in a NATO military intervention. His downfall created a power vacuum in Libya, leading to disorder, chaos and the emergence of numerous militias.

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