Libya: Haftar’s Forces Push Further South

The Libyan National Army has pushed further south as part of a large scale operation that LNA chief Khalifa Haftar has launched to liberate the region from criminal gangs and terrorists.

In the early hours of Friday, the air force raided bases of Chadian gangs south of Ghadwa as armed forces advanced further into the area, a terse LNA communique said.

The raids inflicted heavy casualties and material losses, it said.

LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari said army troops have dealt a heavy blow to the Chadian mercenaries in Ghadwa.

Only three soldiers were killed during the clashes, he said.

LNA forces on Friday responded to an attack launched by Chadian opposition militants in southern Libya, according to a military source.

"Army units clashed with militants of the Chadian opposition who attacked the units early Friday morning," a military officer told Xinhua.

The officer explained that the attack took place in Ghadwa town, some 60 km south of Sabha, southern Libya's largest city.

"The militants were later expelled from Ghadwa. A number of army soldiers were killed and injured," the officer said.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative for Libya, Ghassan Salame, and his Deputy for Political Affairs Stephanie Williams have discussed preparations for the planned National Conference with mayors from the Western region of Libya, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said.

The meeting came following reports that the UN is planning to postpone the conference to March.

UNSMIL did not give details of the meeting with the mayors and shied away from responding to a possible delay.

The conference aims to set the stage for elections in Libya this year.