By RFIPosted on 13-12-2019Changed on 13-12-2019 at 22:35
Marshal Khalifa Haftar announced Thursday evening December 13 the launch of a new phase of his fight to take control of the capital. A "decisive battle" according to him.
In a speech recorded and broadcast on al-Hadath, a favorable television channel, he called on his troops to advance towards the center of Tripoli. It is a new phase of its offensive launched on April 4: " Hour Zero has struck for the broad and total assault on Tripoli, " he announced.
On the ground, Khalifa Haftar's forces announced progress in several sectors and on different axes south of Tripoli. Some images broadcast by channels supporting the offensive showed fierce fighting. Videos filmed in particular in the two bases of Yarmouk and Hamza in the center of Tripoli.
Sarraj claims to have pushed back the offensive
But troops loyal to the government of Fayez el-Sarraj denied this advance: " We have neutralized four tanks and their soldiers who have entered the Toghar sector ," said the forces defending Tripoli.
" We are ready to repel any further crazy attempts by the putschist Haftar, " said Fathi Bachagha, the interior minister in the government of national unity, describing the announcement by the eastern strongman as " desperate ". .
For his part Fayez el-Sarraj affirmed: " our forces repelled the offensive, and gave harsh lessons to the enemy ". Haftar's advance is only " an illusion, " he concluded.
According to a general of the ANL, the Libyan national army loyal to Marshal Haftar, his forces destroyed huge ammunition of weapons "which could be enough for several armies " according to him. He claims that militia leaders have fled the battlefields and that opposing fighters have surrendered.
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