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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Cairo - Jamal Jawhar, Khaled Mahmoud

LNA Extends No-Fly Zone Above Tripoli

Libyan National Army (LNA) members head out of Benghazi to reinforce troops advancing towards Tripoli, in Benghazi, Libya, April 7, 2019. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori

The Libyan National Army, led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar, has announced the expansion of war area near Misrata and extending no-fly zone above the capital, Tripoli.

LNA Spokesman Major General Ahmed al-Mismari announced Wednesday the expansion of the no-fly zone in the western region to include Mitiga airport in Tripoli, as of 9:00 pm on Thursday (local time).

He called on airlines to immediately adhere to the announcement text for their aircraft not to be destructed.

Meanwhile, the LNA Military Information Division announced in a statement that its air defense platforms had succeeded in targeting a drone, which raided the army forces. It said the drone was shot down in the Abugrein area.

Five of the Special Forces’ 302 battalions were killed in Sirte as a result of a drone attack.

It also announced that air force fighters launched Wednesday a series of airstrikes targeting warehouses of weapons and ammunition and a gathering of mercenaries in Jubia camp, south Nalut (60 km from the Tunisian border in western Libya).

It added that the LNA military units have advanced in more than one battlefield in the capital and extended its control over new sites after violent clashes, in which it let the “enemy suffer great losses.”

The Division also indicated that the military units have captured a number of Sarraj-backed militants after advancing in Salah Eddine, southern Tripoli, and arrested a member of the so-called Benghazi Defense Brigades (BDB) while attempting to flee from Sirte.

Meanwhile, the Volcano of Rage operation, launched by Saraj’s Government of National Accord (GNA) forces, published on Wednesday photos showing what it described as an accurate air force targeting the LNA gatherings in Bouirat al-Hassoun area, west of Sirte.

It also quoted field sources as announcing the killing of 18 LNA members.

In other news, the LNA announced carrying out airstrikes on Wednesday targeting the coastal road west of the city of Sirte, a day after nine of its members were killed in a strike carried out by the GNA forces.

LNA forces have taken control of the strategic city of Sirte, which is located in the center of the Libyan coast on the Mediterranean and seeks to boost their gains.

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