Libyan army liberates Wadi Wishka, moves to Sirte

TRIPOLI

The Libyan army on Saturday liberated Wadi Wishka area near the eastern city of Sirte from militias of warlord Khalifa Haftar, a military spokesman said.

"Our forces managed to seize control of Wadi Wishka area and are advancing towards Buerat, 95 km from Sirte ," Ibrahim Beit al-Mal told Anadolu Agency.

Earlier Saturday, the Libyan army launched a military operation, code-named "Path of Victory", to capture the cities of Sirte and Jufra and the towns of Wadi Wishka, Buerat, Jarif and Qasr Abu Haid from Haftar's forces.

The move came one day after the army liberated the strategic city of Tarhuna -- the last stronghold of Haftar in western Libya.

Libya's internationally recognized government has been under attack by Haftar's forces since April 2019, with more than 1,000 killed in the violence.

The government launched Operation Peace Storm in March to counter attacks on the capital and recently regained strategic locations, including the Al-Watiya airbase and Tarhuna, which is viewed as a significant blow to Haftar's forces.

*Bassel Ibrahim contributed to this report from Ankara