Tripoli, Jan 22, 2020 – Rocket fire forced the suspension of all flights into and out of Tripoli’s sole functioning airport on Wednesday, only nine days after it reopened following a truce, Libya’s embattled UN-recognised government said. Mitiga airport had reopened after the truce in nine months of fighting for control of the capital between the Government of National Accord and forces loyal to a rival administration based in the east. Six military-grade Grad rockets targeted the airport in what GNA forces spokesman Mohammed Gnunu branded a “flagrant threat” to the safety of air traffic and a “new violation” of the ceasefire. Haftar’s forces, which accuse the GNA of using Mitiga for military purposes, say they target “Turkish drones” being launched from the airport to attack their troops in southern Tripoli. Located east of the capital, Mitiga is a former military airbase used by civilian traffic since Tripoli international airport was heavily damaged in fighting in 2014.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 22, 2020 13:41 UTC