Libya’s Tripoli gov’t foils attack by pro-Haftar forces

By Walid Abdullah</p> <p>TRIPOLI (AA) – Libya’s UN-backed government on Friday announced it had foiled an attack on capital Tripoli by forces loyal to military commander Khalifa Haftar.</p> <p>According to an official statement, the failed attack had targeted Tripoli’s Abuscabh and Al-Hira districts.</p> <p>A local security source told Anadolu Agency earlier that government forces had retaken a strategic checkpoint near Tripoli shortly after it had been captured by forces loyal to Haftar.</p> <p>“Government forces have retaken Security Gate 27 [west of the capital], where they managed to capture a number of pro-Haftar military personnel,” the source said, speaking anonymously due to the issue’s sensitivity.</p> <p>Shortly afterward, a high-level pro-Haftar source, also speaking anonymously, confirmed to Anadolu Agency that as many as 30 soldiers had been captured on the capital’s outskirts.</p> <p>UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, meanwhile, has arrived in Libya’s eastern city of Tobruk, where he is currently holding talks with Haftar, according to local media reports.