Egypt's Investment Minister, World Bank discuss strengthening partnership    El Hamra Port emerges as regional energy hub attracting foreign investment: Petroleum Minister    Egypt hosts 4th African Trade Ministers' Retreat to accelerate AfCFTA implementation    Israeli aggression won't bring peace, jeopardises treaties, Egypt's Sisi warns    Power of Proximity: How Egyptian University Students Fall in Love with Their Schools Via Social Media Influencers    Egypt wins Aga Khan Award for Architecture for Esna revival project    EGX closed in mixed notes on Sept. 15    Madbouly reviews strategy to localize pharmaceutical industry, ensure drug supply    EHA launches national telemedicine platform with support from Egyptian doctors abroad    Egypt's Foreign Minister, Pakistani counterpart meet in Doha    Egypt condemns terrorist attack in northwest Pakistan    Emergency summit in Doha as Gaza toll rises, Israel targets Qatar    Egypt renews call for Middle East free of nuclear weapons، ahead of IAEA conference    Egypt advances plans to upgrade historic Cairo with Azbakeya, Ataba projects    Egyptian pound ends week lower against US dollar – CBE    Egypt hosts G20 meeting for 1st time outside member states    Lebanese Prime Minister visits Egypt's Grand Egyptian Museum    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Egypt seeks Indian expertise to boost pharmaceutical industry    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Qadhafi forces forces bomb airport at rebel stronghold
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 17 - 03 - 2011

Tobruk, Libya -- Libyan rebels shot down at least two bomber planes that attacked the airport in their main stronghold on Thursday, according to residents who witnessed the rare success in the struggle against Muammar Qadhafi's superior air power.
The rebels used three of their own seized planes and some helicopters to attack government troops fighting to advance on the city of Benghazi, said Mustafa Gheriani, a spokesman in the rebel base.
The rebels were unable, however, to keep Qadhafi forces from surrounding Ajdabiya, the last major city between Qadhafi's forces and Benghazi 100 miles to the north, rebels and residents said. The opposition said it was hoping for help from the UN Security Council before government troops move in.
A senior hospital official told The Associated Press that 30 people had been killed and at least 80 wounded in fighting in and around Ajdabiya since Tuesday night. Many more of the injured couldn't reach the hospital, according to the official there, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of official retaliation.
Libya's armed forces told Benghazi residents in a scrolling message on state television that, "We are on the edges of the city and we are coming to help you and to cleanse your city of the armed gangs."
The message warned civilians to move away from groups of armed men and weapons storage sites.
Qadhafi's rapid advance on the rebels appears to have spurred the United States to leave behind weeks of doubts about a no-fly zone in Libya, and start advocating for broader UN authorization for international air, sea and land forces.
The Obama administration and other supporters of action against Qadhafi were pushing for a Thursday vote on a draft resolution. Russia and China have expressed doubts about the UN and other outside powers getting involved.
Two government planes struck Benina, a civil and military airport just outside Benghazi around 2 PM, causing light damage before at least one was shot down by rebel anti-aircraft fire, said Mohammed Abdel-Rahman, a 42-year-old merchant who lives nearby and saw the attack.
Medical official Qassem al-Shibli told The Associated Press that he saw three planes attack the airport and nearby rebel military camps before two were shot down.
A third witness saw fire trucks fighting a blaze at the airport, and black smoke billowing from the area.
The attack may have been sparked by the rebel use of air power. Gheriani, the opposition spokesman, said the rebels had three planes that they've been using to hit Qadhafi's forces, along with helicopters patrolling the coast.
The rebels launched airstrikes against Qadhafi's troops on Thursday about 10 miles from the western gate of Ajdabiya, activist Abdel-Bari Zwei told the AP from inside the city.
But by Thursday afternoon, Qadhafi's army had were on the southern, eastern and western outskirts of Ajdabiya and had seized the nearby port town of Zwitina to the north, encircling the city.
"Gadhafi troops have not invaded the city on foot until now," said Moataz al-Gheriani, who lives in downtown Ajdabiya and is in touch with the rebels. "They are only imposing a siege from three fronts: the western, the southern and the eastern. No one can leave and no one can enter."
Zwei said that a fierce battle at the southern gates of Ajdabiya had erupted just after midnight Thursday and lasted nearly three hours.
"The rebels appear only at night, not in the morning," he said. "When we woke up this morning, we found Qadhafi's troops still there."
The US wants the Security Council to approve planes, troops or ships to stop attacks by Qadhafi on the rebels, according to a diplomat familiar with closed-door negotiations Wednesday.
The Obama administration said it would not act without Security Council authorization, did not want to put US ground troops into Libya, and insists on broad international participation, especially by Arab states, the diplomat said.
Gheriani, the rebel spokesman, said by telephone from Benghazi that the opposition was hoping for a positive UN Security Council vote but "if not, we'll rely on ourselves and do what we can."
Gheriani told The Associated Press that Benghazi was "armed to the teeth" and the opposition is ready to defend it.
More checkpoints were popping up at intersections and on main roads in Benghazi, manned by men in uniform armed with Ak-47s and backed by anti-aircraft guns mounted on pickup trucks.
A Benghazi resident who did not want to be identified for fear of reprisals said the city's young men were volunteering to undergo basic military training. Those already trained were seeking more preparation to be battle ready.
The Red Cross said it was leaving Benghazi because of deteriorating security and moving to the city of Tobruk, further east.


Clic here to read the story from its source.