Seven days on, clashes persist near Libyan capital

TRIPOLI

A military campaign launched by forces affiliated with Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar entered its seventh day on Wednesday.

Last Thursday, Haftar's forces launched a three-pronged attack on capital Tripoli. His forces advanced on the town of Al-Ajaylat near the city of Sabratha, located some 70 kilometers west of Tripoli.

They then moved on to the city of Sorman, located 60 kilometers from the capital.

Haftar’s forces entered Al-Ajaylat and Sorman without shots being fired. The following day, however, they met resistance in the city of Al-Zawiya (45 kilometers west of Tripoli) before beating a hasty retreat.

Later the same day, they captured the city of Geryan following limited clashes, before advancing on the Versefane region, where they gained control over the Al-Aziziye district.

Here, violent clashes erupted between Haftar's forces and forces loyal to Libya’s Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Major-General Osama Guweili.

Despite the fighting, Haftar's forces continued to advance towards Tripoli’s international airport, located 25 kilometers south of the capital.

Pro-Haftar forces captured the airport last Friday. But on Monday, GNA forces regained control of the airport following two days of clashes.

Haftar's forces then retreated from Al-Zawiya city near Tripoli, before being forced to withdraw from the airport amid heavy bombardments.

Haftar’s forces then suffered a stinging defeat following the arrival of reinforcements from Tripoli.

On Tuesday, GNA forces asserted control over Aziziye, southwest of Tripoli, and the Versefane region, leading to the further withdrawal of Haftar’s forces.

After being forced to withdraw from two fronts, Haftar's forces opened a third axis, attempting to advance on Ayn Zara.

Shortly afterward, Haftar’s 9th Brigade announced the capture of Al-Yarmouk, the largest military base in the Ayn Zara region.

The GNA, however, later regained control of the Yarmouk base on Monday, establishing control over all bases along the Salahaddin front.

Meanwhile, clashes continue in the Hillet al-Furjan region, while Haftar’s 9th Brigade attempts to reach the Salahaddin front located near Tripoli.

GNA and Haftar forces have continued to trade blows in southern parts of the capital. Attempting to infiltrate central Tripoli and advance on the Ayn Zara region, Haftar's forces on Wednesday gained control of the Al-Jamili Mosque.

Haftar's forces also captured the headquarters of the GNA's 4th Brigade in the Aziziya region.

While Haftar's forces remain concentrated in the western Sabratha and Sorman regions, clashes continue in the vicinity of Qasr bin Ghashir.

Meanwhile, the warring parties have continued to issue conflicting statements.

On Tuesday, Mohamed Gnounou, a military spokesman for the GNA, said their forces had gained control of Wadi Rabi and Bridge 27 in western Tripoli, along with Tripoli’s international airport.

But Ahmad Mismari, a spokesman for Haftar's forces, has said developments in the field were “in Haftar’s favor”, asserting that their forces were only two kilometers from central Tripoli.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization said that 47 people had been killed in the last three days amid the ongoing fight to capture the capital.

* Writing by Ali Murat Alhas