UAE drones attack Libya's Gharyan city: Tripoli gov't

By Walid Abdullah

TRIPOLI (AA) - Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) on Monday claimed the UAE’s drones carried out attacks in Gharyan city, south of capital Tripoli.

"UAE's drones that support rebel war criminal [Khalifa] Haftar just targeted Abu Ghilan area in Gharyan city," GNA’s military forces said in a statement.

No information was provided on how many people were injured.

In previous statements, the UAE had denied similar allegations of carrying out strikes in Libya.

In August, forces loyal to military commander Haftar launched an offensive on Gharyan in an attempt to wrest control of the city from forces loyal to UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA).

GNA forces repelled the attack and captured Col. Fawzi Buhrara, the former leader of Gharyan operations room of pro-Haftar forces.

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 the east to which Haftar is affiliated, and the Tripoli-based GNA, which enjoys UN recognition.

*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara