LNA Unveils ‘Turkish Military Movement’ towards Misrata

Arab World

March 5th, 9:07am

Cairo - Khalid Mahmoud

The sign of Matiga International Airport is seen in Tripoli, Libya December 12, 2019. Reuters

The Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Khalifa Haftar, has disclosed a “Turkish military movement” towards Misrata, in western Libya, following huge Turkish losses in the past two days. These developments came as an LNA statement said Tuesday that members of militias loyal to Fayez al-Sarraj’s “Special Deterrence Force” arrested and hijacked civilians and activists allied with the army in the capital Tripoli. Mitiga International Airport authorities announced on Tuesday that shelling forced a suspension of flights at Mitiga, the only functioning airport in Tripoli, and all flights were transferred to Misrata. The “Volcano of Rage” operation led by Sarraj’s Government of National Accord (GNA) said the decision to shift the flights came after Mitiga airport was targeted by dozens of missiles launched by LNA. Two aircraft that are believed to be a Boeing 737 of Buraq Air and an A320 of Afriqiyah were damaged and went out of service. A prominent LNA officer told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the Turkish soldiers, who have been in Tripoli for some time, have now started helping pro-Sarraj Misrata. The official, who preferred to remain anonymous, attributed their deployment to the city to the material damage and human losses that Turkish forces have suffered in Tripoli. Misrata, located 200 km east of Tripoli, has the biggest military force in the west and central Libya. Sarraj’s government is dependent on this force to defy the offensive launched by LNA in April last year to seize the capital. Also Wednesday, the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation denied rumors that Libya has named an ambassador to Syria. It stated that the procedures for appointing ambassadors are subject to specific criteria before being approved by the House of Representatives (HoR).

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2164051/lna-unveils-%E2%80%98turkish-military-movement%E2%80%99-towards-misrata