Forces loyal to rival Libyan army commander Khalifa Hifter say they have seized control of the main airport in the capital Tripoli, two days after he ordered his forces to seize the seat of the country’s UN-backed government. Hifter’s media office said in a post online that his forces took full control of Tripoli international airport and are working to secure the facility. They posted photos of troops apparently inside the airport, saying “we are standing at the heart of the Tripoli international airport”. Hifter’s media office also said troops captured the area of Wadi el-Rabeia, south of Tripoli, amid clashes with rival militias backing the government of Fayez Sarraj in Tripoli. The UN Security Council earlier on Saturday called on Hifter’s forces to halt all military movements and urged all forces in Libya “to de-escalate and halt military activity”.

Source: The Irish Times April 06, 2019 17:48 UTC