Libyan govt forces retake Tripoli Airport from Haftar

<p>By Walid Abdullah</p> <p><br></p> <p>TRIPOLI (AA) – Forces loyal to Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) on Monday recaptured the Tripoli International Airport from military commander Khalifa Haftar, according to a local military source.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Haftar is affiliated with a rival government based in Libya’s eastern city of Al-Bayda.</p> <p><br></p> <p>“GNA brigades managed to reassume control of the airport after it was briefly seized by pro-Haftar forces,” a GNA military source told Anadolu Agency on Monday on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media.</p> <p><br></p> <p>According to Libya's Al-Ahrar television channel, the GNA’s air force, meanwhile, has continued to target the Al-Watiyah Airbase (located 130 kilometers southwest of Tripoli), which pro-Haftar forces have been using to stage attacks on forces loyal to the Tripoli government. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Haftar’s self-styled “Libyan National Army” has yet to comment on the source’s assertions.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Last Thursday, Haftar announced the launch of a military campaign — dubbed “Flood of Dignity” — aimed at capturing Tripoli from the UN-backed government. </p> <p><br></p> <p>One day later, he announced that his forces had taken the international airport located on the capital’s outskirts.</p> <p><br></p> <p>At a subsequent press conference, Haftar spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari vowed that the campaign would not stop “until it achieves its objectives”. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when a bloody NATO-backed uprising led to the ouster and death of President Muammar Gaddafi after four decades in power.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Since then, the country’s stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of power: one in the eastern city of Al-Bayda, with which Haftar is associated, and another in Tripoli, which enjoys the UN’s support.</p> <p><br></p> <p>* Writing by Mahmoud Barakat</p>