Libya’s Haftar forces close in on Tripoli, capture former international airport
Tehran (KNA) - Forces loyal to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar say they have advanced into the southern outskirts of the country’s capital city and seized the former Tripoli International Airport in a dangerous escalation.
Ahmed Mismari, a spokesman for Haftar's self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA), said the forces were in full control of Tarhouna and Aziziya, two towns near Tripoli, as well as their villages nearby.
"Aziziya is now under our control, the road to Aziziya that reaches Zeltan is also under our control. In addition, Alhira district is under our control as well as Tarhouna," Mismari said.
"This is considered a great achievement and progress towards Tripoli, it means that we are technically inside Tripoli," he added.
Earlier Friday, forces allied to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), administered by Fayez al-Sarraj, had pushed back Haftar's forces from a key checkpoint less than 30 km from Tripoli.
Media reports said 145 LNA fighters had been captured in Zawiya, west of the Libyan capital, and 60 vehicles belonging to pro-Haftar forces had also been confiscated.
Source: PressTV