Wanis Bukhamada, the head of special forces in Benghazi, said his forces are allied with General Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army in fighting against Islamists; commanders of the Cyrenaenica federalists and the Tobruk air force base made similar statements. Haftar’s forces claimed to have suspended the GNC. The Islamist-leaning GNC head Nouri Abu Sahmein ordered hardline Islamist forces to Tripoli to fight Haftar’s forces. The al Qaeda-linked Lions of Monotheism group vowed to help Ansar al Sharia battle Haftar’s forces. A 40-kilogram bomb was found near Benghazi’s Benina airport. Saudi Arabia pulled its diplomatic staff from Tripoli, where fighting has spread. Authorities deported 161 Egyptians with fake entry visas.
