Al-Watiya air force base of the Libyan National Army (LNA) launched Saturday airstrikes on weapon stores of armed groups affiliated to the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Gharyan city, south of Tripoli, according to the base’s statement.
The statement said the air strikes “severely weakened” the armed groups in the city.
The LNA will “firmly respond” to the attack on Gharyan, General Commander of the LNA Khalifa Haftar said Saturday.
Haftar described the attack carried out late Wednesday on Gharyan as a “cowardly and deceptive” action as civilians were hit and homes were demolished.
The LNA denounced the “criminal acts committed against humanity” by the armed groups of the GNA upon entering the city, calling upon the international and national human rights organizations to punish the violators.
On Wednesday, the LNA withdrew from Gharyan following the outbreak of the clashes between the LNA and the forces allied to the GNA, according to the media office of the 73rd Infantry.
The media office said armed groups affiliated to the GNA carried out a surprise attack backed by airstrikes on the city, grabbing control over it.
GNA field commander Abdul Hakim Tanish conformed the whole city has been recaptured from the eastern forces, and the U.N.-recognized GNA took control on the LNA’s operation room.
The tensions in Gharyan have killed 20 members of the LNA and 10 others of the GNA while injuring 9 affiliated to the LNA.
