Libya’ Benghazi death toll hits 356 in one month

Libyan military personnel show their skills during a graduation ceremony at the Tripoli air base in the Libyan capital on November 12, 2014. AFP / Mahmoud Turkia

At least 356 people were killed in fighting for Libya’s second city Benghazi since the launch of a government-backed offensive against Islamist militias a month ago, medical sources said Saturday.

More than 200 of the dead are soldiers – either members of the regular army or forces loyal to former Libyan army general Khalifa Haftar, the Red Crescent and hospital sources said.

But civilians are also among the casualties, caught up in the crossfire as troops battle to wrest the eastern city back from the militias that seized it in July.

All of Libya’s three big cities – the capital Tripoli, third city Misrata and Benghazi – are largely under the control of Islamist-led militias.

In Benghazi, one of them – Ansar al-Sharia – is blacklisted by Washington as a terror group for its alleged role in a deadly 2012 attack on the US consulate.

Libya is currently run by rival government and parliaments. The country is grappling with a sharply deteriorating security as it is effectively controlled by former rebels who, alongside other NATO-backed groups, helped in the toppling of dictator Muammar Gaddafi but are now using their guns to fight for power.

International attempts to mediate in the conflict have failed to produce a holding ceasefire or bring the major armed groups to the table.