Libya : Battle for Tarhouna In The Horizon

Several hours after the expiration of an ultimatum issued by the Government of National Accord (GNA), for the Libyan National Army (LNA), to withdraw from the City of Tarhouna, 90 km South East of Tripoli, all is now set for the great assault. Tarhouna has been barricaded for several weeks by GNA forces headed by Fayez el- Sarrej. After two previous failed attempts by the GNA to capture the city, the United Nations backed forces are now set for another battle, “Driving the forces of General Khalifa Haftar out of the town of Tarhouna, South East of the capital, could end Libya’s civil war, Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha told Reuters on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 by phone. But this would be “the most difficult military option” at this moment. Tarhouna, surrounded by hills, has been the LNA’s main strategic centre in the west, providing local manpower for a campaign that has leaned heavily on air support supplied by the United Arab Emirates and Russian military contractors. Since Tuesday, May 26, 2020, the various front lines have been ablaze in Tripoli, as if to announce the temperature for the coming days. After more than 6 hours of fighting, the Libyan National Army claims to have succeeded in stopping the attacks carried out by the GNA in the area of Ain Zara, as well as that of the airport. According to her, 31 militiamen were killed, including two leaders. For their part, the GNA forces announced that they had destroyed several military vehicles and captured 15 LNA combatants. At the same time, the two sides re...