14 – 20 Aug: LNA expands aerial assault in western Libya

Aug 21, 2019 | Libyan actors

On 15 August, the Libyan National Army (LNA) conducted airstrikes on Zuwara Airport. LNA spokesman, Ahmed al-Mismari, claimed the strikes were targeting a hanger that was being used by Turkish Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and said that, “any location dealing with any foreign entity is a legitimate target.” On 16 August, the LNA also claimed to have launched airstrikes on hangers used to “house UAVs and their ammunition” 1.5 km east of Abu Kammash.

On 15 August, Tripoli’s Mitiga airport was shelled by the LNA, with one worker killed. Airport traffic was halted and flights were diverted to Misrata. On 17 August, the LNA launched a sustained aerial attack over a 48-hour period on anti-LNA coalition locations in Tripoli’s Abu Salim, al-Hira, Tajoura and Ain Zara districts, as well as in Aziziyya and Ghayiran.

On 17 August, the LNA undertook 11 aerial attacks against Misrata’s Air College. The targets were allegedly new hangers where Turkish TB-2 armed drones are thought to have been kept.

On 17 August, fierce inter-communal clashes between the LNA-aligned Fezzazna (Ahali) population and anti-LNA Tebu resumed in Murzuq after a brief lull, forcing thousands to flee for safety in neighbouring towns. Mortars and heavy shelling took place between the Fezzazna-populated Hay al-Megariyef area and the Tebu-populated Hay al-Qala, Dissa and Adawi neighbourhoods.