LIBYA’S UN-backed government has taken back a strategic town near Tripoli from a Libyan commander Khalifa Hafter, a government spokesman has said.
Hafter’s forces have been fighting for the past three months to capture the country’s capital.
The retaking of Gharyan, about 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Tripoli, is significant because it had served as a key supply route for the forces of the commander.
Hafter’s self-styled Libyan National Army (NLA) from eastern Libya and loyal to a rival, east-based government, launched the
offensive on Tripoli, setting off fierce fighting that has threatened to plunge Libya into another bout of violence on the scale of the 2011 conflict that ousted longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
“I officially confirm that all of Gharyan is under our control,” Colonel Mohamed Gnono said.
“The operation was carried out with the least losses and in less than 24 hours.”
The colonel did not elaborate beyond saying that an unspecified number of locals from the town’s population had collaborated with the government forces to ensure “the success of the operation”.
A statement from the government forces late on Wednesday first announced the fall of Gharyan, saying they would pursue their campaign to push back Hafter “until the aggressors are purged from all areas”.
Hafter’s offensive on Tripoli has been widely criticised by the UN and aid agencies.
Hundreds have been killed so far in the violence, mainly combatants but also civilians, and thousands have been displaced.
Earlier this week, the World Health Organisation said the toll of the fighting around Tripoli had reached 739 dead and 4407 wounded.
Hafter, backed by key regional players including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, claims the push on Tripoli seeks to free the city of radical militias.
For its part, the UN-backed government has accused Hafter of trying to establish a one-man military dictatorship.
Later yesterday, the Libyan National Army posted a statement on Facebook denying their rivals were in full control of Gharyan and claiming there was still some fighting under way.
“We faced treason from certain people” in the town, General al-Mabrouk al-Ghazawy was quoted as saying.
Libya sunk into chaos after Gaddafi was overthrown and is now divided between two administrations – the weak UN-backed government in Tripoli and a rival, east-based government that has Hafter’s forces on its side – and an array of militias affiliated with either side and fighting over territory.
Hafter’s campaign against Islamic militants across Libya in recent years won him growing international support from world leaders who say they were concerned the North African country had turned into a haven for armed groups, and a major conduit for migrants bound for Europe.
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