Anger escalated in Misrata, western Libya, due to what described as “violations” committed in the city by the military “Joint Force”, affiliated with the Government of National Unity (GNU), headed by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh.
Dignitaries from Misrata met with Lieutenant General Mohammed Al-Haddad, GNU’s Chief of Staff, demanding of dissolving and expelling the Joint Force, claiming it was committing “abuses” against citizens.
Local media reported that the “24th Infantry Battalion” deployed its vehicles in the vicinity of Misrata Airport, along with other forces that set off from the Al-Ghiran area towards the airport.
The security authorities in western Libya did not issue any comment regarding these movements, but a video clip being widely circulated on social media showed a veiled Libyan woman complaining in a meeting attended by Al-Haddad that “one of the security force officers is forcing her to give up her house.”
The Joint Force, that Dbeibeh ordered to be formed, in his capacity as Minister of Defence, consists of the 444th and 52nd Brigades, the 166th Battalion, the Deterrence Force, Stability and Public Security Support, the Counter-Terrorism Force, the Joint Operations Force, and the Electronic Aviation Device. It possesses 450 vehicles.
By Alsharq Alawsat