A number of Benghazi revolutionaries have announced the launch of a defensive operation to defend Benghazi and to support Benghazi Shura Council as well as Ajdabia revolutionaries, according to their statement.

In the statement, issued Thursday, Benghazi revolutionaries named themselves Defend Benghazi Brigades, pointing out that they are not linked to any party or organization, be it local or foreign, but they areLibyan nationals only.

“We invite Haftar’s followers to go back to their senses and return to the February revolution track after the truth of the Dignity Operation had unfolded.” The statement reads.

The “Defend Benghazi Brigades” confirmed that their sole religious reference is the Libyan Fatwa House, extending at the same time their thanks to whoever helped them and supported them whether from the east or from the west.

It is noteworthy that Benghazi has been plunged into violent clashes since May 2014 between Haftar’s militias backed up by forces related to Dignity Operation and a number of the city’s revolutionaries, who called themselves Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council. The clashes in the city, meanwhile, destroyed the infrastructure of the city on a large-scale leading to the displacement of a half of the city’s population.