Forces loyal to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar declared on Saturday a no-fly zone for combat aircraft in the Western Libya military zone, where it is mounting an offensive against Tripoli, the Al Arabiya TV channel reported citing the military.
Haftars self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA).said they had been targeted by an air strike, as fresh fighting flared south of Tripoli.
“We strongly condemn the air raid… in the Al-Aziziya region” by a plane, which had taken off from western Misrata, said the LNA media office.
Forces in Misrata are mostly loyal to Libyas internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), which has been battling Haftar for control of the war-torn north African country.
Pro-government forces in the capital Tripoli confirmed they had targeted Haftars men with “intensive strikes”.
The air strikes came as fresh fighting flared Saturday south of Tripoli between the pro-government forces and Haftars troops despite calls from the international community to halt the military offensive.
Russia tells Haftar it favors political solution
Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov held a phone call on Friday with Haftar and reiterated Moscows position that it supports a political solution to the crisis in the country.
The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday that Haftar told Bogdanov about what he described as efforts to fight terrorists in Libya, including near its capital Tripoli in the west of the country.
Haftars forces are battling for control of an area some 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of the capital near Tripolis international airport, which was destroyed in 2014.
On Friday, they were pushed back from a key checkpoint west of the capital, less than 24 hours after seizing it during a lightning offensive towards Tripoli.
Late Friday Haftars men also briefly seized the airport, before being ousted.
Audio message
Haftar on Thursday ordered his troops to advance on the capital.
“The time has come” to take Tripoli, he said in an audio message, pledging to spare civilians and “state institutions”.
Dozens of militia have proliferated in Libya since the NATO-backed 2011 overthrow of dictator Muamer Gaddafi and are variously aligned with either the unity government or the rival administration in the east backed by Haftar.
Tripoli residents have expressed concern that large-scale fighting could break out and began stocking up on food and petrol.
On Saturday, large queues formed at petrol stations and supermarkets, an AFP journalist said.
“We must store everything we need for theRead More – Source
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