The Libyan Army forces have launched Operation Peace Storm to target Khalifa Haftar’s forces and foil their attacks on civilians in Tripoli, reported The Libya Observer.
Backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Russia, Haftar’s Libyan National Army has been trying to capture the capital for almost a year.
The army started Operation Peace Storm by attacking Haftar’s forces in Al-Watiya airbase, capturing several fighters and mercenaries, destroying a warplane and seizing major parts of it.
Mohammed Gununu, the spokesman for the Libyan Army, said the new operation comes to respond to Haftar’s forces source of attacks and the launchers as well as artillery weapons they are using to target Tripoli civilian neighborhoods, which have been under attacks for the last three consecutive days.
“On Wednesday dawn, our forces have completed a successful mission by attacking Al-Watiya airbase, arresting several fighters and mercenaries and seizing ammunition and military equipment,” he added.
In related news, Libyan health authorities on Tuesday confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the country, stoking concern that an outbreak could add to woes of the war-torn country.
A 73-year-old man who entered Libya from neighboring Tunisia on March 5 has been tested positive for coronavirus. The man hailed from the western Libyan town of Aljmail.
According to the National Center for Disease Control, the man had recently traveled to Saudi Arabia, and is currently receiving medical treatment in isolation at a Tripoli hospital.
Badr Al-Din Al-Najar, the head of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), said the patient had a high temperature, respiratory infection and shortness of breath upon medical examination in the hospital.
Najar said the patient is now in a stable condition. He confirmed that the NCDC was conducting its follow-up procedures and tracing all those who the patient had interacted with since his return to Libya.
As a preventive measure, the health authorities have put the relatives of the coronavirus positive patient in quarantine.
