TRIPOLI: A series of suicide bombings in Libya has left at least 40 soldiers dead, as opponents and supporters of a renegade ex-general clashed for control of a key air base in the port city of Benghazi.
Al Jazeera website said four separate suicide attacks targeted the Benina air base on Thursday killing at least 40 soldiers loyal to former Gen. Khalifa Haftar and wounding dozens more.
“Fighting is ongoing around the strategic Benina air base, with militias seeking to capture the base before Eid on Saturday,” he said.
“The air base houses heavy weaponry and is crucial for the militias as they attempt to seize control of Benghazi,” AbdelWahed added.
The Shoura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries said it carried out the attack in conjunction with the Libya Shield brigade and Ansar Al-Sharia.
Special army forces allied to brigades of Haftar have been fighting radical forces including Ansar-Al-Sharia, blamed by Washington for an attack on the US Consulate in the city in September 2012 in which the US ambassador was killed.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council on Thursday threatened sanctions against those who reject peace in Libya in a bid to shore up UN-brokered talks on ending the violence.
Libya suicide attacks kill 40 soldiers
Libya suicide attacks kill 40 soldiers
