In Al-Watiya, the Libyan government announced launching 24 air strikes on Al-Watiya air base, from May 5 morning until May 6 morning, destroying armed vehicles of the forces of the General Khalifa Haftar.
In Misrata, the Libyan National Army has conducted several airstrikes targeting an ammunition storehouse for the militia of the pro-Turkey forces of the “National Accord” government inside the Misrata Airbase.
In Tripoli, Khalifa Haftar’s forces carried out artillery shelling using over 80 rockets on May 9 morning against Mitiga Airport in Tripoli and surrounding areas of Soqu al-Jumua and Bab Benghashir.
On the international level, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on May 10 that the deadly attacks by “putschist Khalifa Haftar” on diplomatic missions in Libya and on Mitiga Airport constitute war crimes.
AL-WATIYA
- six members of an armed group loyal to Haftar surrendered to the GNA on May 8 at Al-Watiya airbase, according to Operation Volcano of Rage’s media centre. Al-Watiya, located southwest of Tripoli, is regarded as a key airbase in the country and is second only to Mitiga international airport. It was captured in August 2014 by Haftar, the leader of the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) in eastern Libya, who used it as his headquarters for western operations;
- the Libyan government announced launching 24 air strikes on Al-Watiya air base, from May 5 morning until May 6 morning, destroying armed vehicles of the forces of the General Khalifa Haftar. This came in a statement by the Libyan Army Spokesman Mohamed Gununu published by the information centre of the government’s Operation Volcano of Anger on Wednesday morning;
- the Libyan National Army has repelled an attack attempt by GNA militias on the Uqba Bin Nafaa “Al-Watiya” Airbase in western Libya after the attacking force fell into a tight ambush in which dozens of attackers were killed and others were captured [Address Libya, 05.05.2020];
- the Libyan Army forces under the command of the Government of National Accord (GNA) have carried out a large-scale attack on Al-Watiya airbase, which is the last stronghold of Khalifa Haftar’s forces in the western region, and they are now positioned at the front gate as clashes are still ongoing.
BOUGREIN
- Air Force of the Libyan National Army (LNA) conducted several airstrikes targeting militias of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) in Bougrain area in eastern Misrata, LNA’s Military Information Division said on May 7. The airstrikes hit the militias’ gathering positions as well as their storage of ammunition and weaponry. According to the Military Information Division, this comes as part of LNA’s newly launched air military operation known as Birds of Ababil.
MISRATA
- the Libyan National Army has conducted several airstrikes targeting an ammunition storehouse for the militia of the pro-Turkey forces of the “National Accord” government inside the Misrata Airbase. The media center of Al-Karama Operations Room said that the airstrikes carried out were successful and accurate, after which successive explosions were heard inside the Airbase.
TAJOURA
- Khalifa Haftar’s forces have carried out indiscriminate rocket attack on the coastal road in Tajoura, eastern Tripoli, killing three civilians and injuring 19 others. The media adviser of the Libyan Health Ministry Ameen al-Hashimi said on May 6 that children were among the injured persons as a result of Haftar’s shelling on a coastal road, which is the only route linking Tripoli to districts eastward.
TRIPOLI
- Khalifa Haftar’s groups, backed by Wagner and Sudanese mercenaries, launched an all-out attack in Mashrou and Yarmouk frontlines in southern Tripoli on May 9 night, but it ended in failure, as told by pro-GNA website Libya Observer.
- the National Oil Corporation (NOC) said that four storage fuel tanks of the Brega Oil Marketing Company were set ablaze, while six others were damaged in a barrage of missile attacks on Mitiga Airports, causing havoc in the area. The NOC confirmed that an aircraft fuel supply system was damaged, along with a fuel supply vehicle which took a direct hit and perhaps most disturbingly a flying ambulance. The Corporation implored those responsible to desist from further destruction of equipment adding that the oil sector serves all Libyan citizens alike;
- the Ministry of the Interior announced on May 9 the death of six innocent citizens and the injury of dozens more, along with massive collateral damage to public and private property as a result of Haftar’s forces bombing in the Bab Benghashir area.
- Khalifa Haftar’s forces carried out artillery shelling using over 80 rockets on May 9 morning against Mitiga Airport in Tripoli and surrounding areas of Soqu al-Jumua and Bab Benghashir. According to Volcano of Rage Operation, Haftar forces’ rocket attacks on Mitiga Airport led to a massive damage scale, leaving two Airbus planes damaged and out of service after being hit by shrapnel. “One plane (Airbus 320) was preparing for takeoff to Spain to evacuate Libyans stranded in there due to Coronavirus outbreak.”
- the Libyan National Army (LNA) has “categorically” denied targeting diplomatic headquarters in Tripoli, affirming that such actions constitute a violation of the international law. This comes after local media reported that two rocket-propelled grenades landed on the Al-Shat Park in area on May 7, in the square where the radio headquarters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Al-Mahary Hotel, the Turkish Embassy, and the house of the Italian Ambassador are located.
- at least three people, including a civilian, were killed after rocket attacks by forces loyal to Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar hit the capital Tripoli and a nearby area, the government said early on May 8. Rockets struck Tripoli port, Mitiga International Airport and a coastal road, said Mustafa al-Mujie, spokesman for the government’s military campaign to combat Haftar’s assault on Tripoli, dubbed Operation Volcano of Rage.
- the indiscriminate shelling of civilians in Tripoli has continued unabated over the last week or so despite the unilaterally declared humanitarian Ramadan ceasefire announced by the Khalifa Haftar led Libyan National Army on 29 April.
ZUWARA
- the Libyan National Army announced that its air force had targeted the main operations room for the Tripoli-based “National Accord” Government militias in the Zuwara town, west of Tripoli. LNA warplanes have carried out airstrikes on several GNA sites and concentrations for the second day in a row, after targeting on May 4 morning their concentrations in Sorman vicinity, LNA information office said in a statement [Address Libya, 05.04.2020].
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on May 10 that the deadly attacks by “putschist Khalifa Haftar” on diplomatic missions in Libya and on Mitiga Airport constitute war crimes. The Foreign Ministry added in a statement that Turkey will consider Haftar elements as legitimate targets if the country’s interests in Libya are targeted, referring to Haftar’s forces attacks on Zawiat al-Dahmani and Shatt Road, near the embassy of Turkey in Tripoli.
- the spokesman for EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell, Peter Stano said that the main task of the EU’s IRINI operation is to prevent illegal arms flow into the country. He said the EU enforcing the UN arms embargo helps create conditions for a cease-fire and a political solution in Libya.
- UNSMIL on May 8 strongly condemned the increased attacks on civilian populated areas in Tripoli, including what it referred to as “the appalling shelling” on May 7 on Tripoli’s Zawiat al-Dahmani neighbourhood, near the Turkish embassy and the Italian ambassador’s residence, which reportedly killed at least two civilians and injured three others.
- the US Department of State held a Special Briefing by video call on Russian Engagement in the Middle East on May 7 which covered both Syria and Libya. The briefing said it aimed to shed some light on ‘Russian malign engagement in the Middle East with a specific focus on Russian actions in Syria and in Libya.
- the United States (US), on May 6, called to separate the National Oil Corporation (NOC), from present political tensions and urged for a halt to targeting its workers and facilities. The US Embassy, in a statement, also called for an end to the unnecessary closure of the energy sector in Libya.
- the Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune has called on the UN Security Council to take the needed measures to issue a resolution for a cessation of hostilities in Libya. The remarks came in a speech for Tebboune in a meeting – online – for Presidents and top officials of member states of the Non-Aligned Movement on May 5.
- the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on May 4, that Turkey is determined to assist the legitimate Government of National Accord (GNA), to return its land into an “oasis of peace”, through Turkey’s continual support.
