Libya’s former air chief assassinated in Benghazi

A former Libyan air forces chief was assassinated in the volatile eastern city of Benghazi, a security source said on Thursday.



Unknown gunmen shot former air forces chief Ahmed Habib al- Mesmari on Wednesday night in the al-Hadaek region in central Benghazi, the source said. Benghazi Medical Center also confirmed Mesmari’s death, saying his body was riddled with bullets.

Mesmari resigned from his position in April after attending a meeting with renegade general Khalifa Haftar, who is leading the military Operation Dignity to constantly pound the Islamist forces in the city.

Benghazi, the birthplace of the 2011 turmoil that toppled Libya ‘s former leader Muammar Gaddafi, has witnessed a drastic escalation of violence since then. The city has been plagued with kidnappings, assassinations and terrorist attacks.

(Xinhua)