Turkish interference holds back LNA's advance towards Tripoli for now
Tuesday 19/May/2020 - 04:39 PM
Mostafa Kamel
The Libyan National Army (LNA) launched a major operation for the liberation of Libyan capital Tripoli from the Islamist and terrorist militias controlling it in April 2019.
The army succeeded in scoring many victories within the operation. Nevertheless, the LNA sometimes has to make some tactical retreats, especially after Turkey jumped into the Libyan conflict to aid the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), a coalition of Islamist and terrorist militias, even as it is recognized by the United Nations.
So far, the LNA is incapable of totally liberating Tripoli, a process impeded by the unlimited military support offered by Turkey to the GNA militias.
Stages
The operation kicked off in April 2019, after the LNA tightened its control on southern Libya.
Soon after its kickoff, the LNA succeeded in overrunning a large number of cities in the vicinity of and inside Tripoli, according to LNA Spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari.
The operation, he said, aims to bring stability and security back to Libya.
The LNA also succeeded in controlling a large number of main roads in the southern part of Tripoli, opening the door for its advance towards the center of the Libyan capital.
The second phase of the operation started in early May 2019. This phase aimed at integrating with allied brigades in the western region. These brigades are made up of tribal troops that joined the operation of the LNA.
This integration also opened the door for the liberation of a large number of areas and military camps from GNA control.
Advance
In December 2019, the LNA overran several strategic sites at the center of the Libyan capital. It also controlled one of the most important cities in Tripoli as well as Sirte, a stronghold of the Islamic State group.
The success of the LNA to control Sirte opened the door for overrunning Misrata, another important city on the road to the Libyan capital.
