Libyan National Army (LNA) forces, commanded by Khalifa Haftar, have decided to retire 2-3km (1.2 miles-1.9 miles) from all front lines in Tripoli from midday, announced spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari on Wednesday.
“We decided to move our forces in all battlefronts in Tripoli a distance of 2-3 kilometers” to allow citizens to move more freely during the end of Ramadan and in the run-up to the Eid al-Fitr holiday, he said.
The LNA announced a unilateral ceasefire to avoid bloodshed during the final days of Ramadan and allow people to prepare for the holiday, he added.
In its biggest advance in a year, the Government of National Accord (GNA) on Monday captured Watiya airbase, an important LNA stronghold and its only major airbase near to Tripoli.
On Tuesday, it took the towns of Badr and Tiji in western Libya.
Confirming a report by Asharq Al-Awsat on Monday, Mismari said the LNA forces had pulled out of Watiya “after assessing the situation on the ground.”
He said the military had for some four months been withdrawing its jets, heavy machinery and other equipment. The safety of personnel has been secured and the operations command in the region has been moved to another location.
The LNA is bent on recapturing Watiya, he vowed, dismissing videos circulated by GNA forces that boasted of their capture of the base.
“They had previously posted similar images in Benghazi and Derna. Now these people are dead or wanted,” he said.
“The war to liberate all Libyan territories has not stopped and will continue,” Mismari said.
