UN-backed govt launch counteroffensive against Haftar

The military forces of the Government of National Accord announced the launch of the "Volcano of Wrath" operation against the Libyan National Army. The Libyan National Army launched a surprise offensive against the capital last week, a move that could potentially drag the country back into civil war.

Tripoli: The military forces of the Government of National Accord (GNA) announced on Sunday the launch of the "Volcano of Wrath" operation against the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

The LNA launched a surprise offensive against the capital last week, a move that could potentially drag the country back into civil war.

The clashes resumed Sunday in the southern suburbs of the capital Tripoli, with the announcement of the LNA that their jets have launched air raids on some targets in the outskirts of Tripoli.

Libya has been gripped by unrest since the 2011 uprising that overthrew and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

In recent years, the country has been governed by rival authorities in the east and in Tripoli, in the west, each backed by various armed groups.

Haftar is seeking to capture the capital and seize military control of the whole country before UN-sponsored talks due to start next week that were designed to set a time frame for possible elections in the oil-rich country.

Fighting was underway Sunday at the international airport, some 24 kilometres (15 miles) from central Tripoli, after Haftar claimed to have seized the area.

The airport was destroyed in a previous bout of militia fighting in 2014.

Haftar said his forces had launched airstrikes targeting rival militias on the outskirts of Tripoli.

Armed groups behind the UN-backed government of national accord, or GNA, have announced an effort to defend Tripoli, vowing to recapture all areas seized by Haftar's forces.

Col. Mohamed Gnounou, a spokesman for GNA forces, said in televised comments Sunday that the counteroffensive, dubbed "Volcano of Anger," was set to "clear all Libyan cities from aggressors and outlaws."

The two sides reported that at least 35 people, including civilians, had been killed since Thursday.