The Libyan National Army carried out its first airstrikes at the outskirts of Tripoli Sunday to reach the center of the city as part of its operation to “liberate the capital from terrorism,” the Libyan National Army War Information Division announced.
The War Information Division said the LNA “was forced” to launch airstrikes when the armed groups in the capital used heavy weapons, threatening residents’ lives, while fighting the LNA.
Since the beginning of the operation on Thursday, 21 persons, including civilians and fighters, have been killed and 27 others have been wounded, the Government of the National Accord (GNA) Ministry of Health declared Sunday.
Meanwhile, the death toll in the eastern LNA
has reached 19 soldiers as it fought forces affiliated to the Tripoli-based GNA.
The clashes between the west and the east have also raised fears that oil production would be affected.
Although the international community, including the UN Mission Support in Libya (UNSMIL), has pressured Commander of the LNA Khalifa Haftar to put an end to the crisis, the LNA has continued its push towards Tripoli.
