Libyan government forces on Monday thwarted an attempt by forces of retired Major General Khalifa Hifter to storm Gharyan, about 100 kilometers southwest of the capital Tripoli, two months after the latter was expelled.
Al-Wefaq sources said gunmen from Hifter's forces aboard dozens of military vehicles launched this morning an attack on the southern suburbs of the city with the support of four drones.
The sources added that the government forces of al-Wefaq retreated in the morning at some points, but after the arrival of reinforcements managed to expel the attacking forces towards the city of Al-Asabaa, which is under the control of militants loyal to Haftar.
By the evening, the municipal council in Gharyan - in a statement - that the situation in the city under the control of the government forces of reconciliation, noting that the attack on Gharyan killed eight people and wounded others.
| Gharyan restored after surprise attack by Wefaq government forces (Reuters) |
Sources loyal to the Government of Wefaq reported the killing and wounding of several elements of Hifter's forces and the destruction of armed vehicles after the air strikes on their positions, pointing out that the attacking forces fled towards the city of injury.
A military source told Al-Jazeera that Hifter's forces retreated after repelling their attack on the Kaliba area (south of the city).
The same source added that a plane belonging to the government of national reconciliation launched raids on a convoy of the attacking forces, stressing the arrival of military reinforcements from the western and central military areas to support the axes of fighting.
Hifter's forces took control of the strategic city of Gharyan as part of its offensive against Tripoli, which began on April 4 before losing in late June, a major setback.