Haftar’s forces lose key town of Gharyan

Libya’s internationally recognised government says it has retaken the strategic town of Gharyan following clashes with insurgent forces.

Forces loyal to the GNA launched a surprise attack on the town on Wednesday, backed by air strikes.

Gharyan was the main supply base for an offensive on the capital, Tripoli, by fighters led by Gen Khalifa Haftar.

His Libyan National Army (LNA) has not yet confirmed the loss, and details are still emerging.

The LNA has held Gharyan, south of Tripoli, since 2 April when it launched a rapid advance against the capital from the south and east.

But progress stalled along the front line and an LNA spokesman had earlier accused “sleeper cells” of allowing GNA forces to enter Gharyan.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that the number of people killed since the outbreak of clashes in Tripoli, last April, has amounted to 739, among them, 41 civilians.

“The number of wounded had exceeded 4400 injured, including 137 civilians,” WHO added.

The organization confirmed that it will continue to ship medical supplies in order to make sure that medicines are available to the injured.

Via Libya Observer