Libya: Government of national unity announces it has regained control of Tripoli

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The armed forces of the Government of National Unity (GNA), supported by the UN, announced, Thursday, June 4, having pushed the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) of Khalifa Haftar out of the territory of Greater Tripoli. Over time, the offensive, which began in April 2019, has seen many countries get involved on both sides.

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The first families had the right this morning to enter their neighborhood, which has been on the front lines for more than a year. Most of the buildings are riddled with holes caused by heavy artillery fire and are therefore uninhabitable. But the videos and photos widely disseminated on social networks are intended to prove the departure of Khalifa Haftar's forces from the border of Greater Tripoli. 

In Ain Zara, south-east of Tripoli, residents appreciate the silence found. The strongest symbol is the takeover of the international airport . It has been out of service since 2014 but it has served as a rear base for Haftar's men since the first days of the offensive in April 2019, recalls our correspondent in Tunis, Mathieu Galtier .

Friday, the day of great prayer, a large gathering is planned in the main square of Tripoli to celebrate the victory of the armed groups who defended the capital and the Government of national unity, supported by the UN. But already, this Thursday evening, hundreds of Libyans gathered at the Place des Martyrs in Tripoli to celebrate the victory against the forces of Khalifa Haftar.

The war continues

But the war is not over. Haftar's troops, supported by part of the thousand Russian mercenaries of the Wagner company, have entrenched themselves in the town of Tarhouna, 100km south-east of Tripoli. Will Tripoli's forces chase enemies up there? Does Haftar envisage a counter-offensive? Tarhouna is in any case the next announced target of the GNA.

The answer will probably come from outside. The Prime Minister of the Government of national unity, Fayez el-Sarraj, arrived Thursday in Turkey whose drones made it possible to tilt the victory on the side of Tripoli. And Turkish President Reçep Tayyip Erdogan has promised to increase aid. His deputy prime minister Ahmed Maetig was one of Haftar's main supporters on Wednesday.

An inverted balance of power

Since its launch by the GNA forces on March 25, the "storm of peace", designed to counter Marshal Khalifa Haftar's offensive, has enabled the GNA to recover the various cities and strategic places located west of the country and where there remains in possession of the forces of the Marshal of the East only the city of Tarhouna.

Strongly supported by Turkish weapons and drones as well as the Syrian mercenaries sent by Ankara, the GNA was able to reverse the equation of force in the country. Today, he threatens to push his operation to take over the oil crescent and also the coastal city of Sirte. Ankara adds and warns that she can strike Khalifa Haftar's headquarters in Benghazi.

This reversal of situation in Libya is also explained by the interplay of foreign powers . His powers now seem to agree on the need to withdraw all mercenaries from the country. A step that could once again pave the way for political talks. An appeal in this direction was launched by Richard Norland, the American ambassador in Tripoli. He asked all the mercenaries to leave Libya. 

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• Libya
• Khalifa Haftar
• Fayez el-Sarraj

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