Benghazi residents on army withdrawal from Tripoli

Opinions varied in streets of Libyan city of Benghazi on Friday regarding withdrawal of Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) from capital, Tripoli.

But most affirmed ir continued support for LAAF, also kwn as Libyan National Army, despite withdrawal.Forces allied with UN-supported government in Libya’s capital said Friday y h retaken ar key western town from rivals behind a year-long offensive on Tripoli.

According to Mohamed G, spokesman for Tripoli-allied forces, Turkey-backed units h entered town of Tarhouna, 72 kilometres (45 miles) souast of Tripoli. Hundreds of citizens took to streets to express ir dissatisfaction with Turkish military intervention, carrying slogans in support of LAAF, led by Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter, and chanting slogans against " Turkish invasion."

A spokesman for Hifter’s forces, Ahmed al-Mosmari, said at a press conference late on Friday that ir fighters withdrew from Tarhouna after facing intense Turkish bombardment.

He framed retreat as a strategic decision to keep heavy fighting outside city’s populated civilian districts.He explained that LAAF withdrew from city of Tarhouna to spare city destruction, ding that forces arrived in a safe area after ir withdrawal from city.

retaking of Tarhouna followed or front-line successes of militias allied with UN-supported, but weak, Tripoli government. On Thursday, y said y regained control of all of Tripoli's entrance and exit points, and day before, y said y took back Tripoli airport.

(Im Credit: AP)