Libya’s National Army, led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar, has confirmed its continued advance in Tripoli battles.
It also denied Fayez al-Sarraj-led Government of National Accord’s (GNA) forces control over Tarhuna city, located southeast of Tripoli.
“GNA has instructed some of its militias in Misrata to attack al-Dawoun area, east of Tarhuna,” according to the LNA.
It attributed the attack to what it described as the “desperation and frustration of this government and the losses it has suffered recently due to targeting military sites in Misrata.”
LNA General Command renewed its commitment to grant a three-day deadline to Misrata city that will end Sunday midnight, without the intention to renew or extend it.
It also revealed that militias loyal to the GNA had fled Tarhuna as soon as some units from the LNA’S 9th Brigade moved to confront them.
In the battlefield, Haftar has boosted the size and nature of his army’s forces participating in the battles.
LNA’s Military Information Division said that military units in the 646 infantry battalion and the supporting brigade in Tariq bin Ziyad combat battalion have moved to the “known location” after being fully equipped.
Meanwhile, pro-Sarraj local media has quoted Italian Ambassador to Libya Giuseppe Grimaldi as saying that his country has not yet responded to Sarraj's request to activate the security agreement with it.
Interior Minister in Sarraj’s government Fathi Pasha Agha, for his part, has pledged to continue countering “the aggression against the capital, Tripoli, until no aggressor forces are present.”
In his remarks on Friday, Agha defended the agreement with Turkey saying, “We will define the framework of security, military, and political agreements in a manner that guarantees the internationally-recognized government’s right to repel the aggression.”
He also reassured Libyans that all the “agreements held mainly ensure achieving Libya’s interests and respecting its rights.”
