UPDATES WITH NEUTRALIZATION OF 12 HAFTAR MILITANTS, CHANGES TITLE, DECK, LEDE, EDITS THROUGH
By Aydogan Kalabalik and Walid Abdullah
TRIPOLI (AA) – The Libyan Air Force on Thursday neutralized 12 militants of warlord Khalifa Haftar near the central coastal city of Sirte.
Col. Mohamed Qanunu, Libyan military spokesman, said in a statement that the airstrike took place "in the Mirah area, near Sirte, during which it targeted armed vehicles."
He said 12 Haftar militants were killed and injured in the airstrike.
Qanunu also said recon operations are underway in Tarhuna, al-Washka, and al-Asaba.
Earlier Thursday, the Libyan military announced that it had carried out five air operations against Haftar's militias in the past 24 hours.
Qanunu said in a statement that the airstrikes were carried out against Haftar militias in the city of Tarhuna, southwest of the capital Tripoli.
Two military vehicles and an ammunition carrier were destroyed and the army did observation flights over Tarhuna, it added.
On Wednesday, the Libyan Army destroyed a Russian-made Pantsir-type air defense system in Tarhuna.
Tarhuna is a major focal point for supply lines for Haftar’s militias from Al-Jufra Airbase.
Libya’s army on Monday retook the key Al-Watiya Airbase from Haftar militias, soon after destroying three Russian-made Pantsir type air defense systems supplied to Haftar by the United Arab Emirates.
Libya's government has been under attack by Haftar's forces since April 2019, with more than 1,000 killed in the violence.
Following the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya's government was founded in 2015 under a UN-led political deal.
*Writing by Gozde Bayar and Mahmoud Barakat
