Libya sees renewed clashes after week-long hiatus

By Walid Abdullah

TRIPOLI (AA) - Armed clashes have been erupted between forces belong to the UN-recognized Government of National Accords (GNA) and those loyal to the Khalifa Haftar.

According to an Anadolu Agency correspondent, who is close to the scene, the armed clashes were renewed in the axes of Khallet al-Furjan, Ein Zara and Ramla -- south of the capital Tripoli -- as GNA forces launched an offensive to recapture the outdated Tripoli airport.

In the same context, the GNA forces said they continue to advance at the airport military front.

"The progress came after targeting pro-Haftar positions through heavy artillery," the GNA forces said in a Saturday statement.

On April 4, Haftar, who is affiliated with a rival government based in eastern Libya, launched a wide-ranging campaign to capture Tripoli.

After several weeks of fighting on Tripoli’s outskirts, however, Haftar's campaign has thus far failed to achieve its primary objective.

Nevertheless, Haftar’s forces remain deployed in several areas around the capital.

Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a bloody NATO-backed uprising after four decades in power.

The oil-rich country 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.