Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/350843
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 23 JULY 2014 7 Sourc- e s added that the fear of devaluation and in preparation for any sudden evacuation, people are exchanging dinars on the black market, where €1 is being exchanged for two dinars instead of 1.66 dinars as set by the Libyan Central Bank. Who is who? Over the past few months, the al- ready turbulent landscape of war- ring militias has undergone a major upheaval, with a number of militias switching allegiance as the battle for power in the major cities inten- sified. The situation on the ground is changed completely from six months ago and is confusing not only for the fighters, but for the people and ana- lysts trying to understand exactly what is happening in Libya. The greatest novelty is Khalifa Hifter, a former general in Gadd- afi's army who has been launching attacks against Islamists and forces l o y - a l t o the Libyan government in the east and has played a key role in propel- ling the country into a new state of chaos. However, the intense rivalry be- tween the Zintani and Misrata forc- es also expose religious and politi- cal divides which go beyond Libyan borders. While the relatively liberal and secular Zintani forces are backed by Mahmoud Jibril, a number of west- ern countries and the United Arab Emirates, the Misrata militias are closer to the Islamists in the east of the country and are allegedly fund- ed by Qatar. Al-Zintan Revolutionaries' Military Council The Al-Zintan Revolutionaries' Military Council was formed in 2011, bringing together 23 militias from Zintan and the Nafusa Moun- tains in western Libya. The Zintan militias are among the best equipped and manned in the country. Perhaps it is best known for detaining Saif al-Islam Gaddafi after his capture in November 2011. Misrata Brigades This is an umbrella group that formed in 2011. It was seen as a revolutionary militia and is Zintan's main rival militia. In the immedi- ate aftermath of Gaddafi's downfall, more than 200 militias, or "revolu- tionary brigades", were registered with the Misratan Union of Revolu- tionaries, comprising about 40,000 members. Along with some "unreg- ulated brigades" based in the central city of Misrata, they are thought to control more than 800 tanks and at least 2,000 vehicles mounted with machine guns and anti-aircraft weapons. It was accused of war crimes by the UN's International Commission of Inquiry on Libya. Libyan National Army Under the control of Hifter, the army claims 6,000 soldiers. It op- erates in the east of the country, mostly in Benghazi. Hifter recruit- ed and trained thousands of young Libyans from this area to fight Is- lamists and government forces. Al-Qaqa Brigade This group was formed by Liby- ans in the western part of the country, who trained in the Zintan area during the revolution. It used to align with the National Con- gress and is known to have bases in Zintan and Tripoli. This group was previously tasked with protecting senior officials and government ministers but it has now officially announced its support for Hifter. Al-Sawiq Brigade The Al-Sawiq Brigade has strong connections to Al-Qaqa and has also pledged allegiance to Hifter. The two groups said in a state- ment back in February that they wanted the Libyan parliament to step down. Libya Shield The Benghazi-based militia is affiliated with the Libyan govern- ment and came under attack by Hifter in May. It has four brigades across the country. 17 February Martyrs Brigade Based in Benghazi, the Islamist militia is thought to have about 12 battalions and is thought to be the biggest and best armed militia in eastern Libya. It was linked to the events in the 2012 Benghazi attack that killed US Ambassador Chris Stevens. Ansar al-Sharia Brigade Linked to al-Qaeda, the Salafi militia came to prominence in June 2012 when it paraded armed vehicles in central Benghazi to de- mand the imposition of Islamic law, or Sharia. It was accused by the US of being part of the events that led to the burning of the US consulate in Benghazi in September 2012. News y of normality People at Mitiga airport People fleeing fire rocket Ali Salah al-Din area Khalifa Hifter