A former general who was a central figure in Libya ’s revolution led a full-scale ground and air assault on several Islamist militia bases in and around the city of Benghazi on Friday, declaring war against the groups that have been accused of conducting a campaign of lawlessness and assassinations. Two dozen people were reported killed in the fighting and dozens more wounded, according to news agencies. The former general, Khalifa Heftar , seemed to be acting on his own initiative, but gained support from members of the army in eastern Libya. A column of personnel and armored vehicles moved against three militia bases around the city early Friday. Jet fighters from the Benghazi air base flew low over the city and helicopters fired on at least one militia position. Libya’s caretaker prime minister, Abdullah al-Thinni, went on television to deny that the attack had been […]