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Libyan Military Jet Shot Down Over Benghazi

An MiG-23 jet which was being flown by forces loyal to Libya’s internationally recognized government was the second to go down in the past week The fighter jet was shot down as it carried out air strikes on opposition positions in the coastal city of Benghazi. ISIS have claimed its fighters downed the plane, according to SITE Intelligence Group, a US monitor of jihadist activity on the Internet. On Monday, another MiG-23 crashed near the eastern city of Derna after attacking ISIS positions. AlJazeera reports: Nasser el-Hassi, spokesman for the government’s forces, told AFP news agency the plane was shot down in Qaryunes, northwest Benghazi, as it bombed targets on Friday. A military source said the pilot survived having parachuted to safety, but his whereabouts were not immediately clear. It was the second military air crash this week. Brigade General Saqr al-Jaroushi, a Libyan military official, also confirmed the incident to the Associated Press. On Monday, another MiG-23 operated by forces loyal to Libya’s recognised government crashed near the eastern city of Derna after attacking fighter positions. The LANA news agency, which is close to the recognised government, blamed “technical problems” for the downing. Before crashing, the fighter had carried [...]