New air strikes on Maitigua, Zouara airports, in western Libya
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) – Vicious air strikes on Tuesday targeted the airport of Maitigua, closed to air traffic for more than two weeks, and Zouara airport (130 km west of the Libyan capital), in a new escalation of the armed clashes that broke out near the Libyan capital on 4 April.
The ‘’Volcano of anger’’ operation depending on the government of national accord, said in a statement issued on its website on Tuesday that ‘’the international Maitigua airport was targeted by fighter jets’’, without mentioning any damage.
It came from the air base of Al-Watiya (Centre) under control of the Libyan National Army commanded by Marshall Khalifa Haftar that ‘’the air force launched air attacks on the Maitigua base’’.
Maitigia airport, the only airport linking the city of Tripoli, has been targeted by repeated bombardments since the military offensive launched five months ago against the Libyan capital, that led to the closure of the air traffic for more than two weeks.
The latest attack was perpetrated last Saturday and attributed to the "Volcano of anger" operation depending on the forces of the general commandment for targeting the international Maitigua airport with Grad rockets".
In another development, the pro-Haftar air force on Tuesday targeted the airport of Zouara, destroying a certain number of drones.
Armed fighting broke out on Monday on the road to the airport in southern Tripoli after an offensive launched by the forces of the Libyan National Army which was driven back by the pro-governmental army of the government of national accord chaired by Fayez Al-Sarraj, with headquarters in Tripoli and recognized by the international community.
Those clashes were preceded by reciprocal air strikes on sites belonging to the governmental army in the central region of Sirte and targeting the air base of Al-Joufra (Centre) under control of the pro-Haftar troops.
That escalation is continuing as efforts are ongoing to accelerate preparations for the international conference on Libya to be hosted in the German city of Berlin, under the aegis of the United Nations.
Stakeholders believe the conference will end the political and military crisis in Libya.
-0- PANA BY/IS/MSA/VAO 17Sept2019
