Two dead in Libya attack claimed by militants

Two guards loyal to Khalifa Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army were killed in an attack yesterday claimed by the Islamic State group, an LNA source said.

Four guards were also kidnapped in the attack on a checkpoint in the central region of Zella, the same source said.

IS said in a brief statement that it had targeted “Haftar’s militias”. The media arm of Haftar’s LNA said in a statement a “terrorist attack” had been repelled, but did not give any details.

The raid in Zella, close to an oilfield some 800 kilometres southeast of the capital Tripoli, is the third IS attack targeting Haftar’s forces in recent weeks.

At least nine people were killed in a May 4 attack in the southern city of Sebha, then five days later gunmen killed two civilians in Ghodwa in southern Libya.

The LNA launched an operation in January to purge southern Libya “of terrorist groups and criminals”.

After securing support from local tribes, it seized several towns.

Haftar then launched an offensive on April 4 against Tripoli, the seat of the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA). The LNA made initial gains but pro-GNA forces launched a counter-offensive, resulting in a stalemate on the southern outskirts of the city.

The fighting around Tripoli between Libya’s two main factions has created fears that IS could re-emerge in the country. The militants were pushed out of their stronghold Sirte by forces loyal to the GNA in December 2016.

But despite losing its main territory, east of Tripoli, IS has repeatedly shown itself capable of launching deadly attacks. MILITARY HARDWARE Meanwhile, a coalition of forces allied with Libya’s UN-backed government of national accord (GNA) said it had received a shipment of armoured vehicles and arms yesterday as it tries to stop Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) from taking the capital, Tripoli.

“The GNA is fostering its forces defending Tripoli with armoured vehicles, ammunition and quality weapons,” the pro-GNA coalition said on one of its Facebook page, without giving further details about the origin of the military equipment. Pictures and videos posted by the coalition on its Facebook pages showed what appeared to be dozens of Turkish-made BMC Kirpi armoured vehicles in Tripoli port.

The GNA and the Turkish Embassy could not immediately be reached for comment. Earlier this month, a Tripoli government spokesman said his administration was talking to its ally Turkey to obtain “anything that is needed to stop the assault,” including military and civilian help.

The LNA, which is allied to a rival administration in eastern Libya, launched an offensive to control Tripoli in early April. As the fighting drags on, 75,000 people have fled their homes and 126 civilians have been killed, according to the latest UN figures.