Libya’s GNA capture Haftar’s last stronghold Tarhuna

Forces fighting for Libya’s UN-supported government said today they entered the city of Tarhuna, the last major stronghold of eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, and  liberated the city shortly after.

The Government of National Accord (GNA)’s operations room said its forces reached the centre of the key city after entering it from four sides, Reuters reported.

“Our forces are combing the city as no resistance is seen from Haftar’s militias after their withdrawal from there,” Mustafa Al-Majei, a spokesman for GNA’s army, said.

There was no comment from Haftar’s forces regarding whether any of their elements remained in Tarhuna.

This comes one day after the GNA announced that it had recaptured all of its administrative capital, Tripoli, from Haftar’s forces. Haftar’s militia confirmed they had withdrawn from the capital.

Hundreds of Libyans took to the streets to celebrate the GNA’s victory.

#Breaking #GNA have breached the last of #Hafter’s strongholds in Western #Libya and have taken full control of #Tarhuna.

The battle for #Tripoli is over & #Hafter’s #LAAF forces have been defeated pic.twitter.com/jiKfVlggnF

— Anas El Gomati (@AGomati) June 5, 2020

GNA forces have also just retaken Tarhuna (ترهونة). It's 60km SE from #Tripoli. Apparently fighting only lasted for one hour. Again, celebratory roar of gunfire. Footage filmed from here on Msallatah – Tarhunah Rd: https://t.co/es5nw1BnA4. H/T @jalaljuma8 for 📹 pic.twitter.com/rveJRveGaM

— Benjamin Strick (@BenDoBrown) June 5, 2020

Haftar launched an offensive to capture Tripoli, a GNA stronghold, in 2019 and battles have been raging since between Libya’s two rival factions.

READ: Russia’s rising dawn over Libya, or is it another Syria in the making?