"Today we respond to the call of our people in our dear capital as we have promised them," Hifter said. Tripoli is under the control of a weak U.N.-backed government and aligned militias, which are rival to the east-based administration and Hifter's army. Gharyan is the closest Hifter's forces have made it to Tripoli. Skirmishes were reported overnight in the mountain district of al-Assabaah, near Gharyan, in which two people — a resident and a militiaman — were killed, according to the media office of Hifter's forces. The campaign then extended southward as Hifter's forces took control of key towns and border crossings earlier this year and now is pushing west, toward Tripoli.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 04, 2019 16:25 UTC