A helicopter carrying three French soldiers crashed near Benghazi, Libya on July 17, killing the Frenchmen and their Libyan counterparts on board. A new jihadist front called the Benghazi Defense Brigades quickly claimed credit, saying its fighters downed the helo with a shoulder-fired missile. French President Hollande said it was an “accident.” Either way, jihadists and Islamists are now rattling their sabres at France.
The fighting in Benghazi has escalated in recent days after the former Libyan general Khalifa Haftar made a renewed push to rid the city of jihadists. The Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council, however, seems to be pushing back.
A new video posted by Ansar al Sharia Libya features Wissam Bin Hamid. American officials once considered Bin Hamid an ally in Benghazi, but he stood idly by as the US Mission and Annex were overrun on the night of Sept. 11, 2012.
Wissam Bin Hamid met with US officials in Benghazi to discuss security two days before the Sept. 11, 2012 terrorist attack. In recent days, he has been pictured leading Ansar al Sharia and allied forces as they overran a Libyan special forces base.