On April 17th, two fighters of the Government of National Accord’s forces were killed in a Libyan National Army (LNA) airstrike on the Al-Khaheli area in Ain Azzara.
#عاجل | مراسل الأحرار : قتيلان من قوات الوفاق جراء غارة جوية نفذها طيران #حفتر على منطقة #الكحيلي بـ #عين_زارة#الحرب_على_طرابلس
— Libya Alahrar TV – قناة ليبيا الأحرار (@libyaalahrartv) April 17, 2019
Separately, the LNA carried out an air raid on GNA positions in the Wadi Al Rabie, with aircrafts patrolling overhead after the strikes.
#عاجل | مراسل الأحرار: غارة جوية على تمركزات قوات الوفاق في #وادي_الربيع وتحليق مستمر للطيران في سماء العاصمة#العدوان_على_طرابلس
— Libya Alahrar TV – قناة ليبيا الأحرار (@libyaalahrartv) April 17, 2019
An LNA helicopter targeted the GNA-allied Fourth Brigade in Aziziyah.
طيران عمودي تابع للقوات المسلحة يقصف مقر اللواء الرابع بالعزيزية .#طوفان_الكرامة
— غصة الخوارج (@LiBya_73) April 17, 2019
The LNA spokesman on Twitter once more denied that LNA shelled any civilians in Tripoli, according to him GNA-allied militias carried out the shelling and blamed it on Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s forces.
My press conference on April 16 , English version https://t.co/bimpM41g0s
— LNA Spox. (@LNASpox) April 17, 2019
“Following the situation in Tripoli we emphasize that the outskirts of the city were randomly shelled by the terrorist militias controlling the city. General command denounces these terrorist actions and we vow to hold those responsible accountable.
The shelling of civilians that occurred in Tripoli is a crime punishable by local and international law. The civilian shelling was well prepared for by media outlets, written statements, and Fayez AlSarraj
Militias claimed that we used GRAD missiles, but we proved to you using calculations from the battlefield that the LNA was not responsible for the shelling. The area that was shelled is not within the range of the GRAD launchers accompanying the LNA. 107mm launchers were used in the shelling which have a range of 2 to 7 KM. The effect of GRAD missiles is different to what we have seen in the targeted areas. The locations that the shelling originated from are no farther than 7 KM from the civilian neighbourhoods.
The shelling was an attempt to gain the support of local and international public opinion after militias lost on the ground. The shelling was simultaneous to the UK’s presentation of a project to the UN in hopes of shifting international position. The LNA is avoiding attacking militia locations that are fortified amongst civilians.
The LNA does not target civilians. We’ve seen this scenario play out during the Benghazi operations.”
The LNA Spox. Major General Ahmad al-Mismari vowed that the LNA forces would advance and end the presence of militants groups.
#عاجل
اللواء #أحمد_المسماري: قواتنا ستتقدم وتنهي وجود الجماعات المسلحة وسنحارب من أجل بلادنا حتى النهاية#218NEWS— 218 News (@218news) April 17, 2019
The LNA 201st Battalion, positioned south of Tripoli and fighting for the capital received reinforcements.
Reinforcements of #LNA 201st Battalion in #Tripoli #Libya pic.twitter.com/q934WZiQHJ
— Mohamed Mansour ?? (@Mansourtalk) April 17, 2019
Click to see full-size image
On the side of the GNA, its forces put the Saadiya area between Aziziyah and Sawani under control.
عاجل| المركز الإعلامي لعملية بركان الغضب لبانوراما: قوات الجيش تسيطر على منطقة الساعدية بين العزيزية والسواني pic.twitter.com/Kc7Ckmpc98
— ليبيا بانوراما (@lpc_ly) April 17, 2019
The GNA Air Force conducted an airstrike on the city of Ghiryan, where LNA forces are located.
April 17th, #Gharyan city
The GNA has conducted a fresh airstrike in Gharyan city. pic.twitter.com/xRlj8W4Kyg
— Osama Mansour (@osamammmansour) April 17, 2019
The GNA Air Force further struck the Wadi Al-Rabea and the Al Afiya medical post in Qasr Bin Ghashir both in Southern Tripoli.
Aftermath of #GNA air force raids on #AlAfiya medical post in #Qasr_Bin_Ghashir Southern #Tripoli pic.twitter.com/Sfxdgc8kp3
— Mohamed Mansour ?? (@Mansourtalk) April 17, 2019
Aftermath of #GNA air force raids on #Wadi_AlRabea Southern #Tripoli pic.twitter.com/OeTPcsgcv9
— Mohamed Mansour ?? (@Mansourtalk) April 17, 2019
GNA claimed it was advancing on Alswany and that it captured an LNA tank.
#عملية_بركان_الغضب قواتنا تتقدم في محور السواني و تسيطر على دبابة تابعة لميليشيات #المتمرد#لن_نعود_للقيود #تبديد_وهم_المتمرد #ليبيا
Posted by عملية بركان الغضب on Wednesday, April 17, 2019
The GNA published a video on its Facebook page comparing the situations in 2019 and 2011, saying that the conclusion would be the same.
#عملية_بركان_الغضب:2011 – 2019أوجد الفرق وتوقع النهاية#لن_نعود_للقيود #تبديد_وهم_المتمرد #ليبيا
Posted by عملية بركان الغضب on Wednesday, April 17, 2019
On April 17th, Germany called for an urgent UNSC meeting on the next day.
“Tripoli witnessed the heaviest fighting since the outbreak of clashes, with indiscriminate rocket fire on a high-density neighborhood in the Libyan capital,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
“In the past 24 hours, we’ve also seen the highest single-day increase in displacement, with more than 4,500 people displaced,” Dujarric added.
Separately, the EU said that the European citizens with diplomatic credentials caught trying to pass the Libyan maritime border with Tunisia were part of an European mission allegedly there to help Libya secure the border.
الاتحاد الأوروبي يقول إن الأسلحة المضبوطة على الحدود التونسية تعود لبعثة أوروبية تساعد ليبيا على تأمين الحدود
— سكاي نيوز عربية-الآن (@SkyNewsArabia_B) April 17, 2019
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