Libyan gov't hails Benghazi's protest against Turkish intervention

CAIRO - 7 June 2020: The Libyan government said on Mondayit was closely following up the protest of tens of thousands of citizens who thronged Benghazi streets on July 5to affirm the rejection of the Turkish occupation and the Turkish presence in several areas in western Libya.

In a statement published by the Africa Gate news, the Libyan government hailed the protests and asserted its support to the Libyan people and their legitimate demands.The government further called on the international community to shoulder responsibility and end the hostilities against Libya.

The protests came in conjunction with new military operations launched by the LNA against Al-Watiya airbase.The LNA claims it has destroyed a recently-installed Turkish air defense system belonging to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).

The Libyan demonstrators held pictures of LNA Commander Field Marshal KhalifaHaftar and banners in support of the LNA.They condemned foreign intervention in Libya, especially by Turkey.

For his part, Brigadier Khaledal-Mahjoub, director of the Department of Moral Guidance in the Libyan National Army, stressed that the Libyan army forces are fighting a real war with Turkey, explaining that the army stands in the face of Turkish ambitions in Libyan oil.

Mahjoub added, during statements to Al-Arabiya TV, that the Libyan army responded to the airstrikes launched by Turkey, which resulted in great Turkish losses, as well as the killing of Turkish officers and several soldiers.

The director of the Moral Guidance Department in the Libyan Army pointed out that what happened is a strong message to Turkey that the Libyan army will not tolerate the interference inLibyan affairs.

Sources at the Turkish Ministry of Defense just admitted the damage to the Turkish equipment located at the Al-Wattia base.

Libya has been marred in violence of thecompeting forces, militias, and extremists since the toppling and killing of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The conflict now pits the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) against the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal KhalifaHaftar, for control of the country.