Fighting intensifies in Libya

The coronavirus pandemic can't handle war. In Libya, where 49 cases and one death have been reported so far - according to Worldometers - the civil war continues to advance, completely ignoring the devastating effects that the spread of COVID-19 could have on the country. Fighting between the Government of National Unity (GNA), led by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, and the National Liberation Army (LNA), commanded by Marshal Jalifa Haftar, has intensified in recent hours near the capital, Tripoli, the main stronghold of Sarraj's forces.

Shortly after the GNA launched a counter-offensive to recover the territory lost to the advances of the rival faction, specifically the nucleus of Tarhuna -80 kilometres southeast of Tripoli- Haftar's troops have managed to encircle during this weekend some key positions surrounding the capital, such as Salah al-Din, Abu Salim, Al-Toisah and Ain Zara. The LNA's Information Division also reported that the axes of Tarawneh and Tripoli "witnessed heavy fighting in the early hours of Saturday morning in response to a failed attack on the LNA.

Following yesterday's clashes, the marshal's army managed to control new points south of the capital, allowing them to advance towards the Kabylia region in Ain Zara. "The military situation in the axes of the capital is excellent, and the GNA militias have not been successful, despite having received significant military aid in the last 24 hours," said from the Information Division.

During the battle, the LNA has seized 13 armed vehicles and neutralized at least 30 mercenaries. A Turkish drone that had taken off from the Maitiga base (Mitiga/Maitika) in southern Tripoli has also been shot down.

In addition, LNA spokesman General Ahmed Al-Mismari reported the arrest of one of Libya's biggest human traffickers, who was inside a Turkish armoured vehicle in the capital, according to Al-Ain. "A detachment of the armed forces managed to capture the person called Saleh Al-Dabbashi, one of the leaders of human trafficking in the region and brother of the internationally persecuted trafficker, Ahmed Al-Dabbashi, called Al-Amo," the spokesman said. He was in charge of the Sabratha Centre, one of the facilities where crimes against migrants, including slavery, have been reported during 2012 and 2017.

"Turkey is expanding its criminal activities to gain support from major criminals in the western region, such as human traffickers, which is a direct threat not only to the interests of the Libyan people, but to all countries in the region and the Mediterranean basin," Al-Mismari warned in an urgent statement.

Since Haftar launched the offensive against Tripoli last April, a year ago now, the LNA has documented the deaths of a thousand Syrian and African militiamen - supported by Turkey and Qatar - as well as fifty soldiers from the Eurasian nation. Seventy-four Turkish drones have also been intercepted in these 365 days.