Forces loyal to Haftar threatens new air strikes on Tripoli

Forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar threatened a barrage of new air strikes on Libya’s capital, a day after five soldiers were killed in air raids on Tripoli.

Urging residents to stay away from what he called “confrontation areas”, air force commander Mohamed Manfour of Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) said on Monday aerial bombardment will be stepped up because “traditional means” to “liberate Tripoli” had been exhausted.

Al Jazeera said five fighters aligned with the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) were killed and eight others wounded in overnight raids in the capital’s southern Salah al-Din neighbourhood.

“Military sources with the government in Tripoli said the fighter jet is most probably an F-16 and is either an Egyptian or Emirati aircraft.”

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of Haftar’s key backers and has in the past supplied the leader with military equipment, in violation of an international arms embargo on the North African country.

Via Al Jazeera 

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