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The Government of National Accord’s (GNA) forces are claiming to be pushing Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) back, as the latter claims to be progressing well in its offensive.
In a statement issued by the GNA spokesperson Mohamed Gnunu, the GNA forces claimed that forty days after the “failed coup attempt”, the Serraj-aligned Libyan Army continues to “repel and drain the criminal militias” on the outskirts of Tripoli, in preparation for the days of “decisiveness to cleanse the country and the people from the evil of these rebels.”
Gnunu said that in the past two days in the Twisha front they thwarted an attempt by the “militias of the war criminal Haftar to infiltrate” their lines. He said that the infiltration attempt was reinforced with “Emirati Tiger armoured vehicles and tanks accompanied by air support”, but they were forced to retreat in defeat after the destruction of a number of their mechanisms.
The GNA further accused the LNA of using rockets that burst into shrapnel, making them hard to identify in their drone strikes. Those drone strikes primarily target civilians, according to the GNA’s force Facebook page.
On May 13th, GNA forces shot down a Russian-made Orlan UAV over Sirte.
#تقرير | طائرة روسية أسقطتها قوة حماية وتأمين #سرت.. تعرف على نوعها واستخداماتها#العدوان_على_طرابلس pic.twitter.com/2ptJsiMbdb
— Libya Alahrar TV – قناة ليبيا الأحرار (@libyaalahrartv) May 13, 2019
Sirte has been under a LNA siege for upwards of 2 weeks, but it appears that the GNA forces protecting it are not willing to let the strategic city go.
Sirte Protection Force reiterates readiness to defend the city#ليبيا#Libyahttps://t.co/X3V3lMBHhf
— Marsad Libya (@MarsadLibya) May 13, 2019
On May 14th, the GNA Air Force targeted LNA positions in the Tripoli airport and Gharyan.
Libyan Air Force targets Haftar’s forces in Tripoli Airport and Gharyan positions#ليبيا#Libyahttps://t.co/TXdPCbfmX7
— Marsad Libya (@MarsadLibya) May 14, 2019
A GNA Commander – Sheikh Yusuf Auana was killed on the Wabi Al Rabie frontline.
GNA commander Sheikh Yusuf Auana killed this morning in Wadi Al Rabie frontline.
— André Liohn (@andreliohn) May 14, 2019
On the other side, on May 14th, the LNA claimed it had shot down a fighter jet belonging to the GNA Air Force in the central Libya Jufra area that had taken off from the Misrata Flight Academy. It is possible that it was, in fact, the reconnaissance UAV.
#Libya: #LNA claims to have shot down a #GNA reconaissance #UAV over #Jufra District on May 13 pic.twitter.com/GMTErcA6Jc
— Akshita Aggarwal (@AkshitaAggarw20) May 14, 2019
Meanwhile, LNA Official Spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Ahmed al-Mismari claimed on May 12th, that after the GNA lost many of its warplanes, it has now began using Turkish drones to target LNA forces.
He claimed that his LNA forces were “approaching the Tripoli surroundings” and that the “Terrorist militias began to disappear after targeting their commanders in Tripoli.”
The LNA Air Force appears to be keeping busy:
On May 13th, it targeted GNA positions in Ain Zara, southern Tripoli.
#LNAAF air raids last night in #Ain_Zara Southern #Tripoli pic.twitter.com/TMwJJr1Gb8
— Mohamed Mansour ?? (@Mansourtalk) May 13, 2019
The strikes were in assistance of a ground operation in the area.
#LNA operations in #Ain_Zara #Southern #Tripoli pic.twitter.com/yiq3gvfjnI
— Mohamed Mansour ?? (@Mansourtalk) May 13, 2019
The GNA-allied Al-Farouk Brigade was targeted by air strikes in eastern Az Zawiyah.
First picture.. pic.twitter.com/laBT3blicS
— Mohamed Elganga (@Elganga90) May 13, 2019
LNA warplanes carried out strikes on Zawiya, west of Tripoli and there were reportedly casualties. One person was killed and two were injured.
A warplane belongs to eastern invaders led by warlord Khalifa Haftar conducts an airstrike on Zawiya city, west of #Tripoli. There are reports of casualties. pic.twitter.com/a0C9YdiH0D
— The Libya Observer (@Lyobserver) May 13, 2019
Separately, the UNSMIL continued its calls for a humanitarian ceasefire. Their calls were echoed by the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
UNSMIL welcomes the EU Foreign Affairs Council statement on #Libya. The Mission echoes the Council’s statement and stresses that the attack on #Tripoli and ensuing violence threaten international peace and security, and most importantly, the stability of Libya. pic.twitter.com/WVVVPy2zK0
— UNSMIL (@UNSMILibya) May 14, 2019
In its statement, the EU Foreign Affairs council called for a ceasefire and condemned the LNA attack on Tripoli.
“The LNA military attack on Tripoli and the subsequent escalation in and around the capital constitutes a threat to international peace and security and further threatens the stability of Libya.
Furthermore, it enhances the risk of increased terrorist threat across the country.”
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weird?
this is getting ridiculous. what they expect when at war that people dont die? Of course if you bomb and shot the shit out of each other will be casualties. hypocrisy at the highest here especially form the ones who causing this wars.
Who was it who started it all? now leaving two or more proxy armies in to keep them in a permanent state of chaos whilst they are establishing oil for arms business?