© Youtube/TopA still from an alleged video of LNA airstrike against Mitiga airport in Tripoli
The Libyan Government of National Accord's (GNA) Presidential Council condemned the Libyan National Army's (LNA) airstrikes on the Mitiga Airport in Tripoli describing them as a war crime.
"The Presidential Council is strongly condemning the airstrikes on the Mitiga International Airport by forces of [LNA commander] Khalifa Haftar [...] The council regards this attack as a war crime and a crime against humanity, which is violating all national laws and international agreements and which made sending ill and wounded people to hospitals impossible at this difficult moment", the council said on late Monday in a statement obtained by Sputnik.
Video:
The council added that the GNA had taken all the measures to hold those responsible for the airstrikes on the Mitiga Airport to account.
On Monday, the GNA accused the LNA of striking the Mitiga airport, which is located about eight kilometers (5 miles) east of Tripoli's city center, saying that the attack threatened the lives of civilians and the safety of flights.
For years, Libya has been split between the two governments: the eastern part of the country is controlled by the parliament elected in 2014 and backed by the LNA, while the UN-backed Tripoli-based GNA governs Libya's western parts.
On Thursday, Haftar ordered an offensive to retake Tripoli from the GNA-backed forces. The LNA has already recaptured a number of settlements on its way to the capital, including the Tripoli International Airport, located around 20 miles away from the capital. The forces loyal to the GNA announced a counteroffensive on Sunday, dubbed Volcano of Rage, to repel the National Army.
Comment: The UN has called for an immediate
ceasefire:
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday strongly condemned the military escalation near Tripoli and called for an immediate halt to the fighting, AFP reported.
Guterres "urges the immediate halt of all military operations in order to de-escalate the situation and prevent an all-out conflict," said a UN statement as cited by AFP.
He "strongly condemns the military escalation and ongoing fighting in and around Tripoli, including the aerial attack today by a Libyan National Army (LNA) aircraft against Mitiga airport."
Earlier UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) spokesperson Russell Geekie said that the number of displaced people fleeing from the fighting in Libya's capital Tripoli had reached 3,400.
The United Nations have issued an appeal for a temporary humanitarian truce in Libya that would allow the passage of civilians who wish to leave Tripoli and provide the provision of humanitarian assistance, Geekie said.
The Libyan National Army of Marshal Khalifa Haftar last Thursday marched on the national capital with the stated goal of wrestling it from "terrorists".
Forces loyal to the Tripoli-based and UN-supported Government of National Accord (GNA) said on Sunday that they were launching a counteroffensive operation dubbed Volcano of Rage.
Hafter's forces have continued the
attack:
© Reuters / Esam Omran Al-FetoriA member of Libyan National Army (LNA), commanded by Khalifa Haftar, is seen as he heads out of Benghazi to reinforce the troops advancing to Tripoli, in Benghazi, Libya April 7, 2019
An aircraft of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) is striking military positions at Tripoli's defunct international airport, south of the capital, Sky News Arabia reports.
A source from Haftar's entourage told Sputnik last Friday that his forces had assumed control over Tripoli International Airport. However, the Libya Ahrar TV channel reported on Monday that the Tripoli-based government had recaptured areas seized by forces loyal to Haftar, including at the airport.
On 4 April, the LNA commander ordered an offensive on Tripoli, controlled by the UN-supported interim Government of National Accord (GNA), to "liberate it from terrorists". His army earlier seized control over the cities of Surman and Garyan, located west and south of Tripoli, respectively.
The Tripoli government has mobilised additional forces and raised the emergency level to its maximum amid plans of the Libyan National Army to move further into GNA-controlled territories.
The Libyan Government of National Accord's (GNA) apparently retained control of Mitega International airport and has
reopened it by order of Libyan Civil Aviation Authority:
© Reuters/Hani AmaraAirplanes are seen at Mitiga airport
"The Civil Aviation Authority ordered to open the airspace over Mitiga and resume night flights from 7:00 p.m. [17:00 GMT] up to 7:00 a.m. until further notice", the body said on its Facebook page.
On Monday, the Libyan Government of National Accord's (GNA) accused the LNA of striking the Mitiga airport, which is located about eight kilometers (5 miles) east of Tripoli's city center, saying that the attack threatened the lives of civilians and the safety of flights.
The airport was closed following the incident.
An arrest warrant has been issued by the GNA for
Haftar:
The Tripoli-based GNA presidential council has ordered the military prosecutor's office to issue arrest warrants against Haftar and any allies participating in the advance on the city, al-Jazeera has reported.
According to the news network, council chairman Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj instructed prosecutors to prepare arrest warrants against the military leader. Earlier, al-Sarraj vowed that Haftar and members of the Libyan National Army would be brought before Libyan and international courts for trial.
Haftar's LNA troops began an advance on Tripoli last week, striking positions of armed forces loyal to the GNA at the city's defunct international airport on Tuesday following an attack on another airport a day earlier. The GNA responded to the offensive by announcing a mobilisation of its forces, and vowed to start a counteroffensive dubbed operation 'Volcano of Rage' to repel the LNA.
The LNA has been advancing into western Libya in recent months, taking control of strategic oil fields and population centres.
Hafter's actions are likely at the behest of the CIA and Mossad, to continue the turmoil Libya has suffered since the murder of Gadhaffi:
Some background:
Comment: The UN has called for an immediate ceasefire: Hafter's forces have continued the attack: The Libyan Government of National Accord's (GNA) apparently retained control of Mitega International airport and has reopened it by order of Libyan Civil Aviation Authority: An arrest warrant has been issued by the GNA for Haftar: Hafter's actions are likely at the behest of the CIA and Mossad, to continue the turmoil Libya has suffered since the murder of Gadhaffi:
- Libyan National Army led by Haftar begins offensive on UN-backed govt in Tripoli - UPDATE
- Libyan Army launches "Volcano of Rage" military operation to defeat Haftar's coup forces
Some background: