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Africa North

Libyan Army attacks Mitiga airport, Turkish soldiers killed

2020-03-16

Again? It’s a wonder the rubble hasn’t just all crumbled to dust and blown away.

[ALMASDARNEWS] The Libyan National Army has hit the Mitiga Airport in Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
, Libya, killing ~~Ottoman~~ Turkish servicemen stationed there, the LNA spokesperson said on Sunday.

According to spokesperson Ahmad al-Mismari, for the past several days, the LNA has struck ~~Ottoman~~ Turkish military targets, including radars and air defences, located at the Mitiga air field. He noted that the LNA had also destroyed everything in the Misrata region that is viewed as having a "~~Ottoman~~ Turkish presence", including military depots.

Al-Mismari underlined that the LNA is adhering to the truce, and carries out operations only as a response to provocations by the GNA.

He added that the LNA forces had entered several districts of Tripoli but they are not advancing in compliance with the ceasefire.

Last week, the LNA, led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar

...Self-proclaimed Field Marshal, served in the Libyan army under Muammar Qadaffy, and took part in the coup that brought Qadaffy to power in 1969. He became a prisoner of war in Chad in 1987. While held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Qadaffy, so it's kind of hard to describe him as a Qadaffy holdover. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades in the United States, gaining US citizenship. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia of crimes against the Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Haftar held a senior position in the anti-Qadaffy forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War. In 2014 he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC, but then developed into a civil war. Guess you can't win them all. Actually, he is, but slowly...
, hit ~~Ottoman~~ Turkish air defence systems at a military base at the airport, prompting the suspension of all flights and evacuation of passengers and personnel.

The airport has previously come under attack multiple times due to the ongoing fighting between the two rival forces in the country ‐ the Libyan National Army and the UN-backed Government of National Accord.

Posted by:Fred

#1 Perhaps a safe target for active mission planning on a near term primary.

Posted by: Skidmark 2020-03-16 15:35

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