A group of US commandos, who landed in Al-Watiya airbase in western Libya on December 14, had to leave the airbase hours after their arrival to avoid a clash with a Zintani brigade, a statement by Zintan's Thunderbolt Brigade said on Friday.

The statement explained that the US plane arrived at 07:30 am in a mission to train army personnel. 2 hours later an armed group from Abu Baker Al-Sidiq Brigade led by Al-Ajami Al-Atari cordoned off the area in an attempt to detain the US commandos and take them to Zintan.

"The armed group said they had no idea of their arrival." The statement added.

The statement went on to say that the US commandos refused to go out of the airbase and decided to leave. Before leaving, they expressed their displeasure over the mistreatment and made it clear that there is no regular army in Libya.

"Tripoli government was right to call you Tribes Army and the military institution has no control over its units. The airbase is controlled by Zintani militias." The US Commandos said as they were leaving, according to the statement.

On the other hand, some news sources indicated that the plane, which landed in Al-Watiya, was carrying a group of mercenaries to give logistic support to some Zintani armed groups in their bid to come back to Tripoli.

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