Haftar jets shell government base in south Tripoli

Air force jets loyal to the Libyan General Khalifa Haftar yesterday struck several positions of the internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in the south of the capital Tripoli, a well-informed military source has told Anadolu Agency.

“Pro-Haftar warplanes launched at least three air strikes on Monday against GNA troops stationed in Tripoli’s southern districts of Spring Valley and Ain Zara,” the anonymous source explained. The losses resulting from the strikes couldn’t be determined as Haftar’s warplanes were still flying over the area. The military activity apparently eased when it was time to break the day’s fast, but continued afterwards, the source added.

The Haftar-led Libyan National Army (LNA) is based in the east of the country and backed by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. It began an offensive against Tripoli in early April but its advance has been blocked by forces on the city’s southern outskirts. At least 392 people have been killed in the fighting, and more than 50,000 have been displaced, according to data released by the UN and the World Health Organisation.

Haftar’s attack on Tripoli is a blow to UN efforts to resolve the conflict in the oil-rich country. The international organisation has been preparing to hold a dialogue conference between the Libyan factions.

Libya has been beset by turmoil since 2011, when long-serving leader Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a bloody NATO-backed uprising after four decades in power. Since then, the country has seen the emergence of two rival seats of power: one in eastern Libya, with which Haftar is affiliated, and the other in Tripoli, which enjoys UN recognition.

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General Khalifa Haftar taking over Libya – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]