Libya: Woman killed by mine planted by Haftar militia

By Enes Canli

MISRATA, Libya (AA) – A woman was killed and her son was wounded in Libya on Saturday when a landmine planted by militias of warlord Khalifa Haftar while withdrawing from the residential areas south of the capital Tripoli exploded, the Libyan army said.

According to a statement issued by the press office of the Burkan Al-Ghadab (Volcano of Rage) Operation, the explosion took place in the Ayn Zara region.

Data compiled by Anadolu Agency based on the Libyan army figures showed that at least 30 civilian died and 40 others wounded by landmine explosions in last 10 days.

Turkish Armed Forces had started to clean the areas where Haftar’s militias planted bombs and landmines while withdrawing upon the request of the Libyan government for the safe return of civilians to their homes.

The Libyan army has recently inflicted heavy blows to the renegade commander and liberated Tripoli and Tarhuna from his militants.

The internationally recognized Libyan government has been under attack by Haftar's forces since April 2019, with more than 1,000 killed in the violence.

The government launched Operation Peace Storm in March to counter attacks on the capital and recently regained strategic locations, including Al-Watiya airbase.

Libya's government was founded in 2015 under a UN-led agreement, but efforts for a long-term political settlement failed due to the military offensive by Haftar’s forces.