Turkish-Deployed GNA Field Commander, And Al-Qaeda Member, Dies In Misrata

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One of the field commanders of the Libyan Government of National Accord’s (GNA) forces, Ziyad Balam died in Misrata, on March 18^th.

Ziyad Balam was one of the seven identified Ansar al-Sharia terrorists (Al-Qaeda) who committed an attack on the US Embassy in Benghazi in 2012 (now only one of them still lives – Khalid al-Sharif).

After the attack on the embassy, Turkey recognized the Ansar al-Sharia group as terrorist.

As soon as Balam became the commander of the Omar Mukhtar brigade, which is part of the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries, the Turkish side disappeared from all claims against him, and in 2014, Turkish public health services assisted the wounded “former” terrorist.

In 2014 he was wounded in an alleged assassination attempt that failed.

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After he was treated in Turkey, he often stayed in Istanbul especially between 2018 and 2020.

After he returned to Misrata, he went to Tripoli and has never been back to Benghazi. He has reportedly been active in the eastern part of Jufrah distict.

In April of last, 2019, Balam, for the last time arrived in Tripoli to fight on the side of the GNA, according to various sources, he has recently led all the same “non-terrorists” from Syria to Ain Zara.

On March 18^th, he was wounded, after which he died in the hospital.

#Libya– reports circulating in pro-#LNA accounts that Ziyad Belam/Balaam (leader of #SDB and prior to that, of Omar Mukhtar Brigade) was killed in clashes in Ain Zara, SE #Tripoli

— Oded Berkowitz (@Oded121351) March 18, 2020

Confirmed death of the #Alqeada member and leader shura mujahiden council of #Benghazi #terrorist ZIAD Balam after being transported by the #GNA to Istanbul #Turkey
After he was injured by the #LNA#BenghaziAintGoingAway
add to the #LNA’s terrorist termination list#Libya. https://t.co/Pm9mLTkEvZ pic.twitter.com/mghruMEq5a

— M.LNA (@LNA2019M) March 20, 2020

Balam was one of the over 6,000 militants that Turkey transported to Libya, to fight on behalf of the GNA and against Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s forces.

According to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, because there’s so many of them, Ankara started paying a lower salary.

Furthermore, the death toll allegedly sits at 129.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (#SOHR) said the number of pro-#Turkey Syrian militants killed as a result of military operations in #Libya has risen to 129. pic.twitter.com/xtP1qkRIh4

— M.LNA (@LNA2019M) March 19, 2020

Meanwhile, clashes in and around Tripoli appear to be slowing down, as the Libyan National Army (LNA) is enforcing a curfew and is deploying in cities around the approximately 95% of Libyan territory under its protection to fight the spread of COVID-19.

#LNA #Libya #Hafter #HoR pic.twitter.com/rRCZw6zGwv

— M.LNA.2 (@MLNA27) March 20, 2020

#LNA #Libya #Hafter #HoR pic.twitter.com/ktKGJicx6c

— M.LNA.2 (@MLNA27) March 20, 2020

Heavy deployment of libya army units in all liberated cities under the democratically elected parliament ( 95% of libya ), to enforce the mandatory curfew imposed by the #COVID19 crisis comity .#LNA #HoR #Libya . pic.twitter.com/2LlZGbM2sa

— M.LNA (@LNA2019M) March 19, 2020

Heavy deployment of libya army units in all liberated cities under the democratically elected parliament ( 95% of libya ), to enforce the mandatory curfew imposed by the #COVID19 crisis comity .#LNA #HoR #Libya . pic.twitter.com/1vladTS50R

— M.LNA (@LNA2019M) March 19, 2020

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• Five Syrian Militants Killed Fighting For Turkey In Libya
• Haftar’s Forces Deployed En Masse Around Tripoli