Libyan government forces target Haftar-held airbase

By Walid Abdullah

TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) - Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) targeted Al-Jufra airbase, controlled by forces based in the east of the troubled country.

GNA's forces announced in a Friday statement that "warplanes carried out combat sorties on anti-aircraft and pro-Haftar ground forces at Al-Jufra base yesterday night [Thursday] and Urban town on Friday morning."

Meanwhile, fresh clashes took place on Friday between Haftar forces and the GNA in southern Tripoli, according to an Anadolu Agency correspondent.

In June 2017, pro-Haftar forces took control of Al-Jufra airbase in central Libya.

Forces loyal to commander Khalifa Haftar launched a campaign in April to capture Tripoli from Libya’s internationally recognized GNA.

Clashes between the two sides since then have left more than 1,000 people dead and about 5,500 wounded, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The oil-rich country has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a NATO-backed uprising after four decades in power.

Libya has since seen the emergence of two rival seats of power: one in eastern Libya, with which Haftar is affiliated, and the Tripoli-based GNA, which enjoys UN recognition.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat