Libya: GNA forces regain control of al-Watiya strategic base

Vehicles destroyed outside a hangar at al-Watiya air base in Libya, taken over by GNA forces on May 18. Mahmud TURKIA / AFP

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Forces loyal to the Government of National Unity (GNA), led by Fayez el-Sarraj, announced on Monday, May 18, the resumption of control of the strategic air base al-Watiya located 140 km west of Tripoli and in possession of Khalifa Haftar since 2014. This advance is part of a series of victories achieved by the GNA since the launch, in mid-March, of the operation "storm of peace". After several failures to take this base, the advance of the GNA was very rapid this time.

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It took only a few hours for the troops loyal to the Government of
National Unity (GNA) to take possession of this base and there was no combat. The men of Marshal Khalifa Haftar withdrew from al-Watiya base following the destruction by Turkish drones of the Russian air defense system, Pantsir.

The GNA forces then got hold of a very large quantity of weapons, ammunition and military vehicles left behind by Khalifa Haftar's forces. GNA fighters filmed themselves celebrating their victory. Since last April, the al-Watiya base has been the target of more than fifty strikes which led to the death of two of their leaders.

"  Today's victory is not the end of the battle but it takes you one step closer to the great victory,  " said Fayez el-Sarraj, head of the Government of National Unity in a statement. He promised to continue operations until driving out Khalifa Haftar's forces from all the other cities in his possession.

The soldiers of the West assured them that "  preparations are underway  " to launch new attacks against the cities located south of the capital. The city of Tarhouna, another strategic location for Khalifa Haftar, is ranked first.

According to several observers, the capture of the strategic base al-Watiya could constitute a turning point in the battle of Tripoli besieged for a year by the forces of Marshal Haftar.

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  • Libya
  • Khalifa Haftar
  • Fayez el-Sarraj

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