Libyan Army takes control of one of Islamist forces’ largest camps

Gaining control of the camp marked significant progress for the army

25 October 2014, 7:45pm

1 min read

Khalifa Hifter, a former general in Gaddafi’s army has been launching attacks against Islamists in Benghazi, where radical militias are demanding the imposition of Islamic law, or Sharia.

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The Libyan Army and its allies among local militias have taken control of one of the largest camps of Islamist forces in the eastern city of Benghazi, military officials said Friday.

According to Reuters, gaining control of the camp, the first to be set up by the rebels who helped topple Muammar Ghaddafi in 2011, marked significant progress for the army after it previously took control of the Benghazi airport. Last week, the army, working with fighters commanded by a former general, Khalifa Hifter, began an offensive against Islamist fighters who had seized parts of the city.

More than 120 people have been killed since then, according to medics.

Additional army units arrived in Benghazi this week from other parts of the country, creating a rare presence of pro-government forces in the city.