15 Libyan soldiers killed by suicide attack in Benghazi, medical sources say

TRIPOLI, Libya – A suicide attack targeting Libyan Army troops in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi killed at least 15 soldiers, medical sources tell dpa.

The attack struck a gathering of Libyan Army forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar near Quarsah district, in the northwestern suburbs of Benghazi, the sources said.

At least 16 soldiers were wounded in the attack, according to the sources.

No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but similar violence has been claimed by Islamic State terrorists. The movement has taken advantage of chaos in Libya to seize territory along the sparsely populated central coast.

Libya has been in turmoil since the 2011 revolt that toppled long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

In March, a U.N.-backed unity government arrived in Tripoli, amid international hopes to re-establish stability. However, the city of Tobruk’s powerful military chief, Haftar, and a supportive parliament based in the city are still holding out against the nascent unity government.