Fighting continues in Sirte in Libya

Text by: RFI Follow

Despite the request for a ceasefire from Cairo this weekend, the fighting takes place on Monday in Sirte. After several victories almost without fighting, last week, the troops of the Government of National Union are now facing greater resistance from the army of Khalifa Haftar.

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With our regional correspondent in Tunis ,   Mathieu Galtier

Tripoli forces, loyal to the Government of National Union (GNA), bombed the city of Sirte early Monday morning with rockets. According to local sources, at least seven civilians were killed, including three children.

Unlike the offensives on the cities of Tarhouna and Bani Walid last week, the attackers met with strong opposition. The men of Khalifa Haftar who have controlled Sirte since the start of the year can count in particular on Russian drones and fighter planes stationed at a military base south of the city. Russian mercenaries are also posted at Abu Hadi, 20 kilometers south of Sirte.

The Libyan marshal can also count on three important militias from Sirte including the Battalion 604 made up of Salafists. Khalifa Haftar also dispatched part of the Benghazi anti-crime unit, the military stronghold located more than 500 kilometers east of Sirte, to the scene.

Moscow visit canceled

On the other side, we are also preparing for long and violent fights. The military command of the Government of National Union has asked several regions in the West, including Zawya, Tajoura and Jebel Nefoussa, to send men. Sirte, located on the unofficial border between East and West and the western gateway to oil terminals. She could be the mother of all battles in the conflict between the two rival authorities.

In addition, the Prime Minister of the National Union Government of Tripoli, Fayez el-Sarraj, was scheduled to visit Moscow this morning. Russia is one of Khalifa Haftar's main allies. The discussion was to revolve around a possible stop of the offensive of the forces of Tripioli in Sirte, but the meeting was canceled at the last moment by the Kremlin which did not give for the moment reason.

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• Libya
• Fayez el-Sarraj
• Khalifa Haftar

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