The Misrata militia are part of a larger umbrella
group called Libya Shield and also Libya Dawn, both pro-Islamist.The
Zintan brigades are allied with General Khalifa Haftar and his Operation
Dignity. Although part of the Libyan Air Force has defected to ally
itself with the general, Libya is not believed to have planes capable of
launching the attacks. Most of Libya's air force was destroyed by
western attacks during the Libyan uprising that overthrew Gadaffi.
According to Reuters as reported in Al Jazeera, Tripoli residents heard
the jets just at dawn followed by explosions, but there were no details
of what had been hit available.
General Haftar, who has past links to
the CIA, has claimed responsibility for the earlier attacks and says
they are a joint action with the international community.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry issued
a statement: "Egypt categorically denies press reports that Egyptian
warplanes bombarded positions held by armed Islamist militias in the
Libyan capital." The Misrata militia that was attacked said that Egypt
and the UAE provided the jets. The group reported attacks around Tripoli
airport killed 13 people. Both Egypt and the UAE oppose Islamist groups
such as the Muslim Brotherhood who in turn support the Misrata militia
and other Islamist groups.
An umbrella group of Islamists took control
of Haftar's main base in Benghazi and also ousted Special Forces loyal
to Haftar who were providing security for the city. Haftar was left only
in control of an airfield on the outskirts.
The newly elected parliament was scheduled to meet in Benghazi after the
outgoing government voted to move the parliament there from Tripoli.
However, the parliament met instead in the far eastern city of Tobruk,
for security reasons and no doubt as well to avoid areas where Islamists
would have a great deal of influence rather than Haftar and his allies.
The UN and most foreign embassies have evacuated most or all of their
staff and the embassies have closed. Most airlines have also stopped
flying into Libya as the number of usable airports dwindles. The Tripoli
International Airport is in ruins with many planes destroyed or
damaged. It has been closed
since clashes first started back on July 13th. The control tower had
been previously damaged but now after the latest bombing the main terminal is reported to have been destroyed by fire.
The outgoing General National Congress, questioned the legitimacy of
the newly elected parliament after it decided to meet in Tobruk against
the decision of the GNC that is should he held in Benghazi. Now,
spokesperson for the GNC Omar Ahmidan announced:
"The General National Congress will hold an emergency meeting in Tripoli to save the country's sovereignty,"Islamist groups claim they have no confidence in the new parliament situated far off in the eastern city of Tobruk.
The parliament in Tobruk
seems to lack any power. It has asked for international help and
pleaded with the warring militia to agree to a ceasefire. The Zintan
brigades at Haftar's request had occupied and burned the parliament
buildings in Tripoli and kidnapped a number of legislators and
officials. Now Haftar and his allies want to ensure that a parliament
said to have a majority of anti-Islamist members is not subject to a
similar attack by pro-Islamist groups.
That the identity of the planes attacking Tripoli remains a mystery
after three nights of raids is itself a mystery. Intelligence agencies
and governments must know where these planes took off from and would be
able to track their flight there and back. Why is it that no country
seems to be making any sort of outcry at what is a terrorist attack on a
capital city. What is much more important is to find out who was the
alleged executioner of journalist James Foley. Can you imagine the press
coverage and outrage if unidentified planes bombed even Ottawa let
alone Washington or London?
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