Libya's Haftar Army Announces 2nd Stage Of Offensive On Tripoli - Reports

Faizan Hashmi Published April 23, 2019 | 03:50 AM

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd April, 2019) Libyan National Army (LNA) head Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar announced a start of the second stage of the offensive on Tripoli, local media reported, citing LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari.

The Al-Wasat news outlet reported that, according to Mismari, the second stage of the operation was launched with the use of infantry forces after the completion of the first phase.

The news outlet said that Mismari was speaking on Monday evening at a press conference.

The political situation in Libya has been in a critical state since April 4, when Haftar ordered his troops to advance on Tripoli in a bid to drive what he called terrorist forces out of the city.

In response, armed forces loyal to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) started a military operation against the LNA.

Since the overthrow and killing of Libya's long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the country has been divided between two governments, with the eastern part controlled by the LNA, and the western part governed by the UN-backed GNA, led by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj.