The Al Jazeera Media Network logo is seen on its headquarters building in Doha, Qatar June 8, 2017. REUTERS/Naseem Zeitoon
CAIRO – 13 January 2018: Qatari Leaks released a video on Friday showing a leaked call between a leader of the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries and a reporter from Qatar's Al-Jazeera, claiming that Doha aims to ignite further conflict in Libya.
According to the video, Ahmed al-Gezawy, a leader of the Shura Council, stressed that his group needs financial and weaponry support to seize control of Benina International Airport in Benghazi.
Al-Gezawy vowed that "his brothers" (jihadists) would control the airport and western Libya reaching the borders of Egypt in case they received the required support, according to Qatari Leaks' video.
The Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries is a military coalition in in the eastern city of Benghazi composed of Islamist and jihadist militias, including Ansar al-Sharia, Libya Shield 1, and several other groups.
Libya has been plagued with an ongoing conflict since 2014; rival groups have been jostling for control of Libyan territory.
Qatar’s relations with several Arab states have been strained since May 24 over a leaked statement attributed to Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, criticizing the Gulf’s foreign policy with Iran, describing it as “unwise”.
On June 5, Qatar was hit by its biggest diplomatic crisis in years after multiple Arab nations, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E. and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with Doha and imposed economic sanctions, accusing it of funding terrorism, a claim Qatar rejects. The Arab Quartet halted all land, air and sea traffic to and from Qatar and withdrew their diplomats and ambassadors from the country.
The Arab quartet issued 13 demands to Doha – then shortened them to six principles - which included closing Al-Jazeera television, curbing relations with Iran and shutting a Turkish military base.
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