Libya’s UN-recognized government of National Accord (GNA) gained control of Tarhouna, previously under the control of the putschist Haftar.
On June 4, after the forces affiliated with renegade general Haftar retreated from Qasr bin Ghashir and Wadi Al Rabi, GNA forces fully liberated Tarhouna on June 5. According to some statements, the forces affiliated to the putschist Khalifa Haftar have started to retreat back into Al-Jufra. On 5 June 2020, it was reported that a convoy of 300+ vehicles of the Haftar forced was pulling back from Beni Velid towards Al-Sehir.
“We are moving out of Tripoli and decided to join the 5+5 committee.” said Al-Mismari, spokesperson for the putschist Haftar. GNA forces successfully progressed in two days as there was no resistance.
On June 3, GNA forces were advantegous when they fully retook the former Tripoli International Airport at the time Sarraj, head of Tripoli-based GNA, visited Turkey, resulting in a great advance.
After the former Tripoli International Airport fell, the putschist Haftar forces accelerated the withdrawal from Qasr bin Ghashir and Wadi Al Rabi to Tarhouna, two of which are now controlled by the GNA forces. The progress of the GNA forces continued in Asbiah, Souk al Hamis, Sidi Al-Sayeh south of Qars bin Ghashir and led to the control by the GNA forces.
With the operation simultaneously mounted in the south of Tripoli and west of Tarhouna on May 22, some critical locations where the putschist Haftar forces had had under control for more than 1 year are now under the control of the GNA forces. In addition to the progress on May 22, in the continuing operation on May 23, Libya’s GNA cleared two critical camps, Hamza and Yarmouk camps, out of the forces of the putschist Haftar.
UMH güçlerinin Trablus Havalimanına giriş anları…pic.twitter.com/cYIA7fmfu6
— Turkish Market (@kamerknc) June 3, 2020
For almost a week, clashes increased around the Tripoli International Airport and the putschist Hafter militias gradually started to retreat from the region. The images released from the region on June 2, 2020 demonstrated that at midday the GNA forces were in the northern part of the Tripoli International Airport. Later, GNA forces shared images from the Tripoli International Airport.
Watiyya: The Game Changer
On May 18 2020, the forces affiliated to the Government of National Accord, recognized as a legitimate government by the UN in Libya, retook the critical Watya Air Base, previously occupied by the Haftar forces. The GNA forces, which have made progress since May 18 in the southern part of Watiyya air base, have regained control in Alasaba.
Despite the putschist Haftar’s force, the GNA forces have made a substantial progress in the field since the day when the Watiyya air base was captured. Besides the destroyed Russian air defense systems utilized by the Haftar militias, locals embracing the GNA forces led the victory.
