Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) has made substantial territory gains over the past two days, recovering 7 coastal districts west of the capital of Tripoli. This pushes the Libyan National Army (LNA) supply lines away from the capital.
Facing his first setback in months, LNA leader Gen. Khalifa Hafter responded with a flurry of rocket fire against Tripoli, hitting a number of homes in the area of the eastern suburbs, near the airbase. The casualties are still not clear.
This led to retaliations by the GNA against a convoy of LNA forces. Both sides ultimately engaged in a number of rocket and airstrikes against one another’s territory in the area around Tripoli. Both sides warned towns not to harbor members of the other side.
The LNA has besieged Tripoli for over a year now, and has increasingly secured control of the surrounding area. This marks the first major successful counter-offensive by the GNA, and while they have yet to break the siege, they are getting some room to work west of the city.
Stringing along Russian mercs with fake negotiations was only going to work for so long…