The Libyan Military Prosecutor in eastern region, Faraj Al-Sosae, announced in a press conference that the Defense Minister, Al-Mahdi Al-Barghathi, of the Government of National Accord – whose tenure went from December 2015 to March 2021 – sustained serious injuries in the clashes that took place in Benghazi on October 06, when Al-Barghathi entered the city.
The announcement came after the Internal Security Apparatus of the east-based government had published a video showing the arrest of Al-Barghathi, who appeared to be in good health conditions and without any signs of injuries.
Yet, the Military Prosecutor said Al-Barghathi’s injuries were considerably serious, while the Health Minister of the east-based government, Othman Abduljalil indicated that 15 people were killed in the October 06 clashes with whom he described as “40 terrorists accompanying Al-Barghathi to destabilize Benghazi.”
Media outlets affiliated with Khalifa Haftar said on the same night when the footage of Al-Barghathi was released that the former Defense Minister was freed, but the statement of Al-Barghathi suffering serious injuries that came eight days after the clashes’ incident was completely at odds with the first announcement.
The Health Minister said among the 15 killed persons, there were six fighters from Haftar’s forces in the clashes that took place in Al-Salmani neighborhood once Al-Barghathi and his convoy arrived in the area after being away for quite a long time since he defected from Haftar’s forces and joined the internationally recognized GNA in 2016.
