197 persons killed by landmines in Benghazi during 2017, official at Haftar’s forces said

BY Libyan Express Jan 01, 2018 - 10:46 Updated: Jan 01, 2018 - 10:47

Benghazi’s Al-Sabri has been turned into crumbling ruins due to Haftar’s air strikes (Photo: Archive)

The Military Engineering Unit’s commander at the Libyan east-based self-styled army, Abdulsalam Al-Mismari said that landmines planted by whom he described as extremists in Benghazi killed 197 soldiers and civilians during 2017, reported Al-Bayda-based Libyan News Agency.

Al-Mismari added that 27 military engineering experts were killed and seven others were injured in 2017 as they tried to dismantle landmines in some areas of the clashes between Khalifa Haftar-led forces and Benghazi Shura Council fighters.

“Landmines also killed 170 civilians in 2017, with the majority of victims killed in central Benghazi.” He claimed.

Al-Mismari said that the “army’s general command” issued instructions to launch an awareness campaign on landmines using posters in areas where the remaining Shura Council fighters are stationed.

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