Ansar al Sharia vowed to defend “our city [Benghazi] and our land,” claiming that the assault by General Haftar’s forces was “a war against … Islam orchestrated by the United States and its Arab allies.” Libya’s Interior Ministry and the country’s UN ambassador added their backing to Haftar’s forces. Four large explosions were heard as missiles hit Tripoli residential areas. The women’s unit at a Derna hospital was attacked. The Dahra oilfield pipeline was set on fire. Gunmen tried to assassinate Libya’s naval commander. The Libyan Revolutionaries Operations Room told its forces to desert the army and not to support General Haftar.
