Throughout May 8th and continuing on May 9th, the heavy strikes by Haftar’s forces on Mitiga airbase continued.
Occupied Mitiga airbase still under heavy bombardment more than 52 hits and counting.#Tripoli #Libya pic.twitter.com/usPZOcyIcE
— M.LNA (@LNA2019M) May 9, 2020
The airbase is the primary command center and base of operations of the Government of National Accord’s (GNA) forces. While Misrata is being used as a center of operations for their Turkish supporters.
Mitiga airbase pic.twitter.com/0HMMX6BEcP
— M.LNA (@LNA2019M) May 9, 2020
Occupied Mitiga airbase pic.twitter.com/mkMWg0IAEz
— M.LNA (@LNA2019M) May 9, 2020
The attacks are both by air, as well as by artillery shelling.
First moment of #LNA artillery strike on occupied mitiga airbase.#Libya pic.twitter.com/Ju9npLMxzI
— M.LNA (@LNA2019M) May 9, 2020
As the push is ramping up, Libyan National Army (LNA) spokesperson Brigadier General Ahmed al-Mesmari issued a statement vowing that no international missions, headquarters of international companies and national institutions in Tripoli would be targeted and struck.
https://t.co/P6ta5Rm3Ts pic.twitter.com/lUVEkvlJ7t
— M.LNA (@LNA2019M) May 9, 2020
The LNA purportedly also received a new Pantsir S-1 defense system.
It’s funny how OPSEC changes.
Less then a year ago, this was the best kept secret in #Libya, barely a couple of hidden shots (that means a lot in Libya)Now people post so many photos with it like it’s a tourist attraction.
Purportedly new Pantsir S-1/SA-22 Greyhound with #LNA pic.twitter.com/TdxyYO24uL
— Oded Berkowitz (@Oded121351) May 9, 2020
Meanwhile, the GNA continues its push on al-Watiya airbase, southwest of Tripoli.
Airstrikes were renewed on May 8th, and there are reports that 9 LNA troops were killed as a result of them
مقتل 9 عناصر من مليشيات حفتر الانقلابية في قصف للطيران المسير تابع لسلاح الجو علي نقطة أمنية للمليشيات بالطريق الرئيسي جنوب شرق قاعدة الوطية#عاصفة_السلام
— عماد فتحي E.Fathi (@emad_badish) May 8, 2020
There are also no reports of clashes, but the LNA spokesperson al-Mesmari said that the city of Tarhuna, under LNA control, is besieged by the GNA, which is exacerbating the situation with public health in the city.
المتحدث باسم الجيش الوطني الليبي أحمد المسماري: عدة مدن ليبية تعرضت لقصف مكثف من الطائرات المسيرة التركية مما أدى إلى سقوط ضحايا من المدنيين
— سكاي نيوز عربية-عاجل (@SkyNewsArabia_B) May 8, 2020
In regard to the oil blockade, reports came in that the block would continue until the tribal demands are fulfilled.
Kufra Municipality Says Oil Fields Will Remain Closed Until Tribal Demands Are Met
The Mayor of Kufra, Moftah Abu Khalil, said that it was not possible to reopen the oil fields without fulfilling the demands of the Libyan tribes…#Libya #LibyaReview https://t.co/fK3Vu9vQRm
— Libya Review (@LibyaReview) May 8, 2020
Finally, when it comes to fake news – media advisor to the GNA’s Ministry of Health – Amin al-Hashemi admitted that a story he announced on May 8th that an LNA missile strike that had struck a family in Ain Zara, southern Tripoli was entirely fake. The story was shared by Al Jazeera, as well as GNA-related media.
Media Advisor of #GNAs Ministry of Health Amin Al #Hashemi, admitted the story he announced on Friday of a missile strike by the #LNA that had killed a family in Ain Zara at breakfast was fake. The fake news was carried by @AlJazeera and GNA media. #Libyahttps://t.co/zFGHBvpti3
— صحيفة المرصد الليبية (@ObservatoryLY) May 9, 2020
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Finally. Seems LNA is able to control much of Lybian airspace. This may well prove decisive. GNA Jihadis and their Erdogan Turks will have a hard time without solid air support.. ;)
You are right, unless the Turkeys bring in manned F-16 and deploy more troops the LNA and its supporters will dominate the air. They also have logistical support from Egyptian forward bases and Pakistani mercenary pilots flying the UAE Mirage 2000 from Marsa Matruh. The Turkey drones have proved quite useless in stopping the LNA advance.
But the only airspace that matters right now is around Tripoli, and GNA layered air defenses own that space: medium range MIM-23 Hawks, short range Hisars and Korkut anti-aircraft guns. Old junk, but good enough to keep the LNA’s old soviet stuff away and (so far) scare away UAE Mirage 2000s, which only have limited AD suppression capability. The UAE would need to bring in their F-16s to take out Mitiga’s air defenses and they don’t seem willing to do that yet. This all protects GNA’s Turkish TB2 drones, which are by far the biggest threat to the LNA. They slowed down TB2 ops lately, but still have plenty of them left from Turkey as far as anyone knows.
LNA’s grad attack took out some fuel tanks, but didn’t hit any GNA TB2s (somewhere in shelters). Grads and artillery could potentially take out the remaining TB2s, but not without a lot of time, wasted ammo and civilian casualties around the airport. And that’s if they knew exactly where they are – I’m not sure the LNA does.
LNA did have some Chinese Winglongs for recon and intel. That visibility gave them a big advantage in their recent push. Unfortunately, the GNA (supposedly) hit the LNA Winglong ground and relay stations and apparently took one out. The LNA hasn’t been seen using them much lately, so they may be down for now.
As far as air defense, the LNA now has a few Pantsirs, but not enough to really protect anything but a few of their most critical sites. There are plenty of other high-value targets for the GNA, especially if they have real-time imagery of what’s going on below. That’s how they made their recent advances. Range of the TB2s (armed) are only about 150 km, so they only give the GNA an advantage right around Tripoli. I think Sirte is almost out of range for them.
This is all just a narrow observation of the current, known AD/UAV side of the battles, not a broad description which side may or may not have the overall military advantage. Z=E mentions Turk F-16s – those would easily tip the scales if or until the UAE countered somehow. Thousands of other possibilities overshadow any temporary AD/UAV advantage either side has.
Is the Misurata power plant still functioning is my first thought here? Second question has the LNA mined the harbor entrance to Misurata?
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/t9mUJKr.png)
very nice LNA keep pounding and taking over the base