Operation "Berkan Al-Fathi", affiliated with the National Accord government in Libya, announced the advance of its forces with the Salah al-Din axes and the Hadaba project, south of Tripoli, and stormed the positions of the forces of retired Major General Khalifa Hifter in these axes.

The Al-Jazeera correspondent quoted military sources as saying that Al-Wefaq forces had made progress in the Salah al-Din axis, and had taken control of Al-Sharif Island, passport and financial headquarters, customs and Al-Takbali camp.

The source added that Al-Wefaq forces also extended their control over the Al-Suehli petrol station in the Ain Zara axis, south of Tripoli, and the dental college in Salah Al-Din area. The source confirmed that the resistance of Haftar's forces is concentrated in the main road linking Salah El-Din and the Yarmouk camp.

In the city of Tarhuna, southeast of Tripoli, Al-Wefaq forces tightened the noose on the city, besieging it from more than one axis, and supporting these axes with medium and heavy forces, mechanisms and weapons, in preparation for clashing with Haftar's forces.

A spokesman for the Al-Wefaq forces called on civilians in these areas to stay away from and exit from Haftar forces.

Earlier, the Al-Wefaq government forces claimed control of the city of Al-Asaba, south of Gharyan. A source from Al-Wefaq forces confirmed to Al-Jazeera correspondent that the forces launched an attack from several axes towards the city, without significant resistance from Haftar's forces.

Since April 4, 2019, Haftar's forces have launched a failed attack to take control of Tripoli, the seat of government, in which residential neighborhoods and civilian sites have been targeted, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries, as well as extensive material damage.

Years of conflict have wreaked havoc in most parts of Libya, and Haftar al-Rami's attack to control Tripoli has seen an often intense bombardment of residential areas in the capital for months.

Russian fighters

On the other hand, the Minister of Interior of the Libyan government of Al-Wefaq, Fathi Pashaga, said that Haftar's forces had received eight Russian war fighters, to participate in any air campaign against Tripoli.

He added that six MiG-29 fighters and two "Sukhoi 24" fighters flew towards the Libyan east from the Hmeimim base in Syria, accompanied by "Sukhoi 35" fighters.

And Pashaga considered that Haftar forces invoke a humanitarian truce to hide its defeats and its continuous retreat under various names.

This came after calls by Haftar forces for a cease-fire in Libya, allegedly to allow an opportunity to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, despite its previous refusal to accept several international calls for a truce.

Pashaga’s comments regarding Russian fighters come a day after the threats of Saqr al-Jarushi, commander of the Air Force in Haftar’s forces, that all Turkish sites and interests in his country are a legitimate target of the Air Force.

Al-Jaroushi considered that all Turkish sites and interests in all Libyan cities are a legitimate target for the Haftar forces ’fighting, and he called on civilians to stay away from these sites, according to several news sites, among which the most important site is the US Bloomberg Agency.

In response, Turkey warned that Haftar forces would launch any attacks on its interests in Libya. "If Turkey's interests are targeted in Libya, this will have very serious consequences," said Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamis Aksoy.

The threat points to increased risks from a wider escalation in Libya, as Turkey supports the internationally recognized government of national reconciliation in the struggle against Haftar's forces backed by Russia, the UAE, and Egypt.

Turkish support this week helped the National Accord government to extract an important air base near Tripoli, control towns in the west, and destroy several Russian air defense systems that the Emirates provided to Haftar's forces.