With the Government of National Accord (GNA) and Gen. Khalifa Hafter’s self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) continuing to contest the capital city of Tripoli, artillery shells hit two central districts which had previously not been sites for fighting.
It’s not clear if any specific combatants were targeted in the shelling, and there have been no confirmed casualties yet. At least some of the shells appear to have targeted the electrical grid, and power outages were reported in several parts of the capital.
Hafter’s LNA forces control some of the outskirts of Tripoli, but the GNA retains control of the city. Hafter is backed by a number of states which envision Libya stabilizing under a junta, while the GNA’s support at this point mostly comes from Turkey.
Hafter, a former CIA asset, has launched several failed coups in Libya since the NATO-imposed regime change, but has so far failed to claim power outright. His latest siege of Tripoli began in April, and 10 months later shows no signs of ending.
Always interesting what a rebel leader fighting against an internationally recognized government can get away with when they’re a CIA asset.
“we came, we saw, and a sh*t load of people died because I’m a nasty warmongering bi*ch.”
It’s a US method to rubble cities….