GNA forces strike Haftar's militia in southern Tripoli

By Walid Abdullah

TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) - Libya's UN-recognized government of National Accord (GNA) on Thursday launched an offensive against fighters affiliated with renegade general Khalifa Haftar in the south of the capital Tripoli.

Mustafa al-Majei, spokesman for the GNA-led Burkan Al-Ghadab (Volcano of Rage) Operation, told Anadolu Agency that the GNA forces launched an offensive against Haftar's militia in the Al-Khallatat area.

He added that GNA forces destroyed three armed vehicles for Haftar's militia, noting that fighting still continued in the area.

The GNA has been under attack by Haftar's forces since last April, with more than 1,000 killed in the violence. It launched Operation 'Peace Storm' on March 26 to counter attacks on the capital.

Since the ouster of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, two seats of power have emerged in Libya: Haftar in eastern Libya, supported by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, and the GNA in Tripoli, which enjoys UN and international recognition.

* Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara