29 April 2019

Haftar continues offensive against Tripoli

Forces allied to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) have been fighting against troops loyal to military commander Khalifa Haftar in southern parts of the capital on Sunday and have reportedly been gaining ground. Meanwhile, Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the GNA, has ordered the arrest of 64 people, including two of Haftar’s sons and senior LNA commanders, on charges of “leading the aggression” on Tripoli. The decision came as the GNA health ministry statement read that at least four people were killed and 20 others wounded in LNA air raids overnight on Sunday, as stated by Amin al-Hachemi, a spokesman for the ministry. The GNA also accuses Haftar of using foreign planes to carry out attacks and hitting unarmed civilians. Tripoli’s inactive international airport is said to be held now by LNA forces. Al Jazeera’s reporter in Tripoli, Mahmoud Abdelwahed, said the airport was “very strategic because if the government forces recapture it, they can easily cut the supporting line coming for Haftar’s forces from the city of Gharyan, south of Tripoli.” The World Health Organization has released a casualty toll where at least 278 people have been killed and more than 1.300 wounded in the clashes this month. In addition, 39.000 people have been displaced according to the International Organization for Migration.

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