Gulf of Sidra, Cyrenaica and Benghazi
On 27 September, the Chief of Staff of the National Army authorized the creation of a Benghazi branch of the National Mobile Forces (NMF). The NMF is tasked with implementing National Assembly instructions to dissolve unauthorized armed groups. The Benghazi-based NMF is composed of: the Martyrs’ Brigade of Zawiya, units from the Strike Forces, the Military Police, and intelligence agencies. The NMF first made the news in Tripoli on 23 September when it raided a renegade army barracks as part of a widespread clamp-down on armed groups.
Reuter’s news agency reported that supporters of Ansar Al Sharia demonstrated in Benghazi on 28 September, protesting against the brigade’s eviction from the city. Middle East Online also reported that around 200 demonstrators converged on the Al Jalaa Hospital, which used to be guarded by the group. A hand grenade was reported to have been directed against security forces in the area and several cars were reported to have been set ablaze near a security forces building. The National Army were reported to have dispersed the demonstrators.
The Libya Herald reported an explosion at Benghazi’s Security Directorate building at dawn on 28 September by unknown assailants. The blast caused structural damage to the building but did not result in any casualties. The directorate is located close to the Rafallah Al Sahati Brigade headquarters in the Hawari district. The building has been attacked at least twice before. On 30 September, a joint police/militia patrol was hit by a grenade thrown by a passing car. One police officer was lightly wounded, while a ‘Thunderbolt Brigade’ member was reported to have been seriously injured and transferred to a local hospital.
In late September, the New York Times reported that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had suggested that there was a link between Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the 11 September attack on the US consulate in Benghazi. The paper commented that she was the highest-ranking US official to publicly make the connection. Her comments follow comments made by the director of the US National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), who told a hearing of the US Senate Homeland Security Committee that the consulate attack was a pre-planned terrorist attack. Various media reports have also claimed that US intelligence agencies intercepted calls in late September, in which Ansar Al Sharia members boasted to AQIM over the 11 September US consulate attack.
The Libya Herald reported that hundreds of Benghazi residents turned up to a weapons hand-in ceremony in the city on 29 September. Colonel Faraj Mukhtar Al Zintani, a Special Forces leader and head of the committee tasked with overseeing weapon handovers, reported that large quantities weapons and ammunition had been handed in, including rocket propelled grenades, anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns, assault rifles and explosives.
On 1 October, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hussain Amir Abdullah said the continued detention of seven Iranian Red Crescent workers in Benghazi was unacceptable. He added that Libyan authorities were not doing enough to secure their release and indicated that Iran might bring the issue to the UN Security Council. The Iranian Red Crescent workers were kidnapped in the city in late July and are believed to be being held by an Islamist group. While some communication has taken place, Libyan authorities have been unable to secure the release of the captives.
Ajel Libya reported that renewed hostilities in late September between Zwai Arabs and Tabu fighters in the Al Kufra region of southeastern Libya, had left one dead and two wounded. The Al Kufra area has seen sporadic clashes between pro-government militia’s and Tabu fighters in recent months.
