Libya’s internationally recognized government on Saturday confirmed taking control of three military bases on the outskirts of the capital, Tripoli, from renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), reported Al Jazeera.
Military spokesman Mohamed Gnunu said in a statement that the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) now controlled the Yarmouk, al-Sawarikh and Hamza camps south of the capital.
“Our heroic forces are chasing the remnants of Haftar’s terrorist militia and are continuing their progress,” Gnunu tweeted, without elaborating much.
Libya’s government, which has been under attack by Haftar’s forces since April 2019, launched Operation Peace Storm on March 26 to counter attacks on the capital Tripoli. The GNA has seized a number of towns in recent weeks with the help of Turkish soldiers. It captured a strategic airbase near the Tunisian border and destroyed several of the LNA’s Russian-made air defense systems.
Earlier this month, Ahmad al-Mesmari, a spokesman for Haftar’s eastern-based forces, said his fighters would pull back from some positions south of Tripoli as part of redeployment.
Haftar released a two-minute audio speech addressing his forces on Saturday. He said his army will continue to fight against what he called “Turkish colonialism”.
“To our brave officers and soldiers, you are fighting a holy war that is open to all fronts, a comprehensive war in which there is nothing but victory,” Haftar said in the speech.
Meanwhile, the EU ambassador to Libya appealed warring parties to stop clashes and mark Eid al-Fitr, holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in peace.
Alan Bugeja urged the two parties “to respect the spirituality of Eid al-Fitr and allow the holidays to be celebrated in peace and compassion, which is the basis of the religion of Islam.”
US President Donald Trump also called for a rapid de-escalation of the Libyan conflict on a call with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday.
