The head of Libya’s self-proclaimed eastern parliament on Sunday announced the Eastern Libyan forces loyal to renegade General Khalifa Haftar will pursue their advance on the capital Tripoli.
The Haftar led Libyan National Army (LNA) launched a fight to take control of Tripoli and the entire west of Libya from the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj, on April 4.
“We need to get rid of militias and terrorist groups,” Aguila Saleh, head of the House of Representatives allied to Haftar, said on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Troops loyal to the United Nations-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) reportedly shot down a fighter jet belonging to the eastern forces under the command of Haftar on Sunday. As per reports, the jet operated by the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) was downed in Tripoli’s southern outskirts, as fighting for control of the capital rages.
According to a report coming from France24, an LNA source confirmed the loss of a MiG-23 aircraft, but they attributed it to a technical failure. The source said the pilot had ejected with his parachute and was safe and sound, denying reports he had been captured by the GNA.
The same day Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met Haftar in Cairo to discuss developments in Libya. Although no other details about the meeting were immediately available, Haftar has already won unequivocal support from the Egyptian leader.
“The president affirmed Egypt’s support in efforts to fight terrorism and extremist militias to achieve security and stability for Libyan citizens throughout the country,” Sisi’s spokesman said.
It is believed that Haftar also has the support of leaders in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 121 people have been killed, 561 wounded and more than 13,000 civilians have been displaced since the LNA started its offensive on April 4.
