Members of Libyan National Accord Government (GNA) militias ride in military vehicles on the outskirts of Tripoli, Libya April 10, 2019. REUTERS/Hani Amara
CAIRO – 31 May 2020: The Libyan National Army (LNA) declared on Sunday the killing of three field commanders of the militias protecting the Government of National Accord (GNA) southern Tripoli in clashes.
On May 29, Commander of LNA's Western District Mabrouk al-Ghazwi announced the death of 60 and the injury of 100 militants as they attempted to attack concentrations of the Libyan Armed Forces southern Tripoli.
The commander stated that at least 1,500 Syrian mercenaries were involved in the attack according to the confessions of a captive.
CAIRO - 30 May 2020: The Military Information Division, affiliated with the Libyan Army, has announced the killing of the Turkish-backed Murad Abu Hamoud Al-Azizi, a Syrian mercenary squad leader, at the axis of the Airport Road in the capital, Tripoli.
On May 25, the Libyan Air Force struck for the first time in 2 months Mitiga Airbase used by Turkey to pilot drones that target LNA forces. The strikes also targeted a Turkish air defense system at the base.
LNA Spokesperson Ahmed al-Mesmary said that 100 militants were killed on May 23 in the fighting that resulted in the restoration of Tripoli's Yarmouk Military Camp by the Libyan Armed Forces from militias.
In addition, 27 militants were killed in a repelled attack on LNA-held Tarhouna city southern Tripoli.
Tripoli militias took over Oqba Bin Nafea Airbase located in Al Watiyah area western Libya from the LNA on Monday.
In April, LNA Spokesperson Ahmed al-Mesmary stated that the militias had been attempting to take over the airbase as it can be the substitute of Mitiga Airbase if taken over by the Libyan Armed Forces that lie few kilometers from it.
In the same month, the LNA downed 60 Turkish drones piloted from Mitiga Airbase. In December, the Government of National Accord (GNA) and Turkey signed two MoUs on defense and gas drilling in the Mediterranean.
As a consequence, Turkey brought into Libya 15,000 Syrian mercenaries to fight in the ranks of militias protecting the Tripoli-based GNA.
Turkey also brought Turkish 1,500 military experts and officers to command the operations rooms of militias, which have been controlling only Tripoli and Misrata since the LNA restored Sirte in January.
Fighting has been ongoing as the LNA has been encircling both cities and advancing in their suburbs while militias have been targeting its concentrations.
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