Fighting intensifies as a Haftar closes in on besieged Derna

Middle East Eye: Two suicide bombers on Tuesday hit forces loyal to Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar, who is leading an assault on the eastern city of Derna, a spokesman for his forces said.

The explosions were heard across the city as the bombers hit the southern Chiha district, spokesman Khalifa al-Abidi said.

Abidi did not give a toll for the attacks but said civilians were among the casualties as the roof of a family home collapsed.

On Monday night, another suicide attack killed two fighters of Haftar’s Libyan National Army and wounded three, the spokesman said.

Al Jazeera reported sixteen fighters have been killed and 11 others wounded in the eastern Libyan city of Derna.

Derna is currently held by the newly formed Derna Protection Forces (DPF) – formerly known as the Derna Shura Council – which has controlled the city since ridding it of the Islamic State group in 2015.

Since 2016, Haftar’s LNA forces have besieged Derna, which is home to around 150,000, and since 7 May, have moved in to take the oil-rich coastal city, the only one in the east outside of his control.

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