Fighting in Libya continues despite UN ceasefire call
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A woman has been killed and four others have been wounded after forces loyal to eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar shelled parts of the Libyan capital, according to health officials.
Moustafa al-Mejii, a spokesperson for the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, said heavy fighting broke out on Thursday when Haftar’s troops launched a renewed push to enter the capital.
“Haftar’s militias tried to advance in the region of Machrou al-Hadhba, but our forces repelled the attack, al-Mejii was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
Amin al-Hachimi, a health ministry spokesperson, said the woman died after rockets fired by Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) struck residential neighborhoods along the city’s southern outskirts. Four others were wounded in that attack.
Meanwhile, witnesses said they heard explosions in Machrou al-Hadhba, a largely agricultural area located some 30km (18 miles) south of the city centre.
The attack came despite a UN Security Council passing a resolution the previous day that called for a “lasting ceasefire,” in the war-wracked country. It was the first such motion to be approved since Haftar launched his assault on the GNA-controlled capital in April.
But its call for the consolidation of a fragile truce observed since January 12 has not taken effect on the ground.
