Libya government loyalists recapture Tripoli airport from Haftar forces

Libyan government loyalists have recaptured Tripoli International Airport after it was briefly seized by General Khalifa Haftar's LNA.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab & agencies

08 April, 2019

Tripoli International Airport was recaptured by GNA forces on Monday [AFP]

Forces loyal to Libya's internationally-recognised Government of National Accord re-captured Tripoli International Airport from General Khalifa Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army on Monday.

The airport, which has not been in use since 2014, was captured by Haftar's LNA on 6 April as part of a push by the rival eastern power towards Libya's capital.

"GNA brigades managed to reassume control of the airport after it was briefly seized by pro-Haftar forces," a government military source told Anadolu Agency.

Elsewhere, a warplane carried out an air strike against Tripoli's only functioning airport, authorities at the site said.

A security source at Mitiga airport east of the city said no side had yet claimed responsibility for the raid, which hit a runway without causing casualties.

There has been heavy fighting near Tripoli since the forces of rogue general Khalifa Haftar launched an assault on Thursday aimed at seizing the capital from the Tripoli-based GNA.

The UN mission in Libya on Sunday called for a two-hour humanitarian pause in the fighting that appeared to have been ignored.

At least 21 people have been killed and 27 wounded in the fighting, Tripoli's health ministry reported on Sunday.

The offensive by Haftar's LNA has raised fears of return to all-out war in Libya and left a question mark over the UN-led effort to lay the groundwork for elections with the 14 to 16 April conference.

Libya has struggled to counter unrest since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Muammar Gaddafi, leaving dozens of militia to fill the void and ally with either the GNA or a rival administration in the east backed by Haftar.

GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj on Saturday accused Haftar of betraying him and warned of a "war without a winner".