The Libyan National Army (LNA) repelled the offensive of the forces of the Government of National Accord (GNA) on Tripoli airport, the LNA General Command press service director Khalifa Obeidi said on Monday.

"LNA repelled an armed attack by [GNA armed] groups… on Tripoli airport on Sunday morning," he said.

Obeidi noted that 15 GNA militants, including six mercenaries from Chad, were killed in the clash.

In April, Khalifa Haftar, the head of the LNA, launched an offensive to retake Tripoli from control of the internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA). The LNA has already recaptured a number of settlements near the capital and the Tripoli International Airport, located around 20 miles away from the city. The forces loyal to the GNA announced a counteroffensive, dubbed Volcano of Rage.

Since the overthrow and killing of Libya's long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the country has been gripped by conflict. Libya is now divided between two governments, with the eastern part controlled by the LNA, and the western part governed by the UN-backed GNA. </s> Rival Libyan forces say they have captured Tripoli airport

CAIRO (AP) — Forces loyal to rival Libyan army commander Khalifa Hifter say they have seized control of the main airport in Libya's capital Tripoli, two days after Hifter ordered his forces to seize the seat of Libya's U.N.-backed government.

Hifter's media office says Saturday that troops also captured the area of Wadi el-Rabeia, south of Tripoli, amid clashed with rival militias.

The airport has not been functional since fighting in 2014 destroyed much of the facility.

There was no immediate statement from the U.N.-backed government, the militias that support it, or the U.N..

Hifter's forces have sparked fears of a major showdown with the militias.

Such a conflict could plunge Libya into another spasm of violence, possibly the worst since the 2011 civil war that toppled and later killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi </s> The Libyan Government of National Accord's (GNA) Presidential Council condemned the Libyan National Army's (LNA) airstrikes on the Mitiga Airport in Tripoli describing them as a war crime."The Presidential Council is strongly condemning the airstrikes on the Mitiga International Airport by forces of [LNA commander] Khalifa Haftar [...] The council regards this attack as a war crime and a crime against humanity, which is violating all national laws and international agreements and which made sending ill and wounded people to hospitals impossible at this difficult moment", the council said on late Monday in a statement obtained by Sputnik.Video:The council added that the GNA had taken all the measures to hold those responsible for the airstrikes on the Mitiga Airport to account.On Monday, the GNA accused the LNA of striking the Mitiga airport, which is located about eight kilometers (5 miles) east of Tripoli's city center, saying that the attack threatened the lives of civilians and the safety of flights.For years, Libya has been split between the two governments: the eastern part of the country is controlled by the parliament elected in 2014 and backed by the LNA, while the UN-backed Tripoli-based GNA governs Libya's western parts.On Thursday, Haftar ordered an offensive to retake Tripoli from the GNA-backed forces. The LNA has already recaptured a number of settlements on its way to the capital, including the Tripoli International Airport, located around 20 miles away from the capital. The forces loyal to the GNA announced a counteroffensive on Sunday, dubbed Volcano of Rage, to repel the National Army. </s> Libyan militiamen loyal to the Government of National Accord, Libya’s internationally recognised government, celebrate their advances in the field in the south of the Libyan capital Tripoli, on Tuesday (AFP photo)

TRIPOLI — The only functioning airport in the Libyan capital Tripoli will reopen its airspace on Wednesday afternoon after clashes between rival militias forced it to close two weeks ago, the airport administration said.

Mitiga Airport was shut after rockets were fired in its direction. Flights were diverted to Misrata Airport about 190km east of Tripoli.

“The carriers are expected to resume flights by the beginning of next week” the administration said.

The facility, a former US military base, closed twice this month due to indiscriminate shelling but no severe damages were reported.

At least 115 people were killed and more than 380 wounded in the fighting that pitted the Seventh Brigade, or Kaniyat, from Tarhouna, a town 65km southeast of Tripoli, against the Tripoli Revolutionaries’ Brigades and the Nawasi, two of the capital’s largest armed groups.

Tripoli and western Libya are run by a UN-backed government mainly supported by armed groups, while eastern Libya is controlled by a rival administration. The country has been in spiralling into violent chaos since Muammar Qadhafi was toppled in 2011. </s> “The Civil Aviation Authority ordered to open the airspace over Mitiga and resume night flights from 7:00 p.m. [17:00 GMT] up to 7:00 a.m. until further notice”, the body said on its Facebook page.

On Monday, the Libyan Government of National Accord's (GNA) accused the LNA of striking the Mitiga airport, which is located about eight kilometers (5 miles) east of Tripoli's city center, saying that the attack threatened the lives of civilians and the safety of flights.

The airport was closed following the incident.

On Thursday, Haftar ordered an offensive to retake Tripoli from the GNA-backed forces.

The LNA has already recaptured a number of settlements on its way to the capital, including the Tripoli International Airport, located around 20 miles away from the capital. The forces loyal to the GNA announced a counteroffensive on Sunday, dubbed Volcano of Rage, to repel the National Army.

READ MORE: Alleged VIDEO of Libyan National Army Airstrike On Tripoli Released Online </s> Khalifa al-Ghweil, the leader of the self-proclaimed "Government of National Salvation", which refuses to recognise the legitimacy of the UN-backed Government of National Accord , arrives at Tripoli International Airport. AFP PHOTO The head of a former government announced plans Thursday to reopen Tripoli's airport that was heavily damaged in fighting in 2014, in a fresh blow to Libya's unity administration.

Start the conversation, or Read more at New Vision. </s> An official representative of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA), Ahmed al-Mesmari, accused the Government of National Accord (GNA) head Fayez al-Sarraj of making a deal with terrorist groups, the al-Arabiya broadcaster reported.

"There are alliances between the government and terrorist organisations," al-Mesmari said on Tuesday.

The LNA spokesman's remarks come amid Haftar's troops' advancement on Tripoli which commenced last week; the forces struck positions of the military loyal to the GNA at the city's defunct international airport on Tuesday following an attack on another airport a day earlier. The GNA, in turn, reacted to the offensive by announcing a mobilisation of its forces. Additionally, it vowed to initiate a counteroffensive dubbed operation 'Volcano of Rage' to repel the LNA.

READ MORE: Haftar Army Launches New Strikes on Tripoli International Airport — Reports

The United Nations previously stated that the organisation would hold a conference in the city of Ghadames on 14-16 April to discuss solutions to the conflict. </s> CAIRO (AP) — Forces loyal to rival Libyan army commander Khalifa Hifter say they have seized control of the main airport in Libya’s capital Tripoli, two days after Hifter ordered his forces to seize the seat of Libya’s U.N.-backed government.

Hifter’s media office says Saturday that troops also captured the area of Wadi el-Rabeia, south of Tripoli, amid clashed with rival militias.

The airport has not been functional since fighting in 2014 destroyed much of the facility.

There was no immediate statement from the U.N.-backed government, the militias that support it, or the U.N..

Hifter’s forces have sparked fears of a major showdown with the militias.

Such a conflict could plunge Libya into another spasm of violence, possibly the worst since the 2011 civil war that toppled and later killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi </s> Forces loyal to rival Libyan army commander Khalifa Hifter say they have seized control of the main airport in the capital Tripoli, two days after he ordered his forces to seize the seat of the country’s UN-backed government.

Hifter’s media office said troops also captured the area of Wadi el-Rabeia, south of Tripoli, on Saturday amid clashes with rival militias.

The airport has not been functional since fighting in 2014 destroyed much of the facility.

There has been no response yet from the Libyan government, the militias that support it, or the UN.

Hifter’s forces have sparked fears of a major showdown with the militias.

Such a conflict could plunge Libya into another spasm of violence, possibly the worst since the 2011 civil war that toppled and later killed long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Hours earlier, the UN Security Council called on Hifter’s forces to halt all military movements and urged all forces in Libya “to de-escalate and halt military activity”.
Forces loyal to the Government of National Accord retake Tripoli International Airport from the Libyan National Army.