BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:40 P.M.) – The Benghazi-based Libyan National Army (LNA) launched a massive offensive on Thursday to capture the capital city of Tripoli.
The Director of the Information Office for the General Command of the Libyan National Army, Khalifa al-Obeidi, said that the “Tariq bin Ziad Battalion and Battalion 128 of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces carried out a strong attack on Wadi Al-Rabe’a south of Tripoli,” noting that “the orders and instructions were issued by the military commander of the army. Now our forces are beginning to make real progress. “
On Wednesday, the Libyan National Army repulsed a large offensive by the forces of the Government of National Accord (GNA) at the Wadi Al-Rabe’a axis; this operation only lasted for a short period of time.
“This has prompted the army to withdraw to avoid clashes in the center of the city,” an LNA source told RT.
The Libyan National Army is seeking to expel the GNA forces from Tripoli and consolidate their presence in the northwestern part of the country.