Haftar's LNA Says Shoots Down Warplane After Attempt To Attack LNA Airbase - Spokesman

Libyan National Army (LNA) head Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar shot down a military aircraft belonging to terrorist armed groups that tried to attack al-Jufra airbase, LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari said on Tuesday

CAIRO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd April, 2019) Libyan National Army (LNA) head Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar shot down a military aircraft belonging to terrorist armed groups that tried to attack al-Jufra airbase, LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari said on Tuesday.

"Air defense forces of al-Jufra base shot down a military plane belonging to terrorist armed groups that tried to attack the base this morning ... There were a total of three warplanes, two of which managed to escape ... The search for the pilot of the downed aircraft is underway," the spokesman said.

The clashes in Libya erupted on April 4, when Haftar ordered his troops to advance on Tripoli to free it from what he called terrorists.

As a result, the LNA gained control over the cities of Surman and Garyan. On April 7, the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) announced a counteroffensive, dubbed Volcano of Rage, to confront the LNA.

Libya has been suffering from unrest since 2011, when long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed. Since then the country has been split between two rival governments, with an elected parliament, supported by Haftar's army, governing the country's east and the UN- and EU-backed GNA ruling the west from Tripoli.