LNA spokesman unveils identity of Tripoli’s Mitiga Airport attackers

The spokesman for the Libyan National Army (LNA) Ahmed Al-Mismari has stated that an armed group loyal to “Al-Bugra” that is positioned in eastern Tripoli is responsible for the recent attack on Tripoli’s Mitiga Airport, where several hajis have been injured.

Al-Mismari told Al-Ittihad newspaper that targeting Mitiga Airport started long before the LNA had begun the operations in southern Tripoli and that the aim of such attacks is to set free some terrorists who are locked up in Mitiga Prison, especially those apprehended in the case known as “Hamas Cell.”

He indicated that the Special Deterrence Force (SDF) had been under massive pressure for letting the detainees go and that Muslim Brotherhood Group had been trying through “its mouthpieces” to accuse the LNA of attacking Mitiga Airport as part of the media campaign that aims to distract attention from the advances made by LNA forces on Tripoli frontlines.

Over five rockets were fired at Mitiga Airport on Sunday dawn, leading to injuries among hajis and damage to an Airbus for Libyan Airlines.

Meanwhile, UNSMIL said that the attack on Mitiga Airport constitutes a direct threat to the lives of hajis (pilgrims) and other civilian passengers and cannot be justified under any pretext, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.

UNSMIL added that it had dispatched an assessment mission to the airport and was able to confirm that four projectiles struck the civilian parts of the airport; three projectiles landed in the parking lot and one hit the runway resulting in damage to an airplane that had carried dozens of pilgrims returning from the Hajj. At least two crew members were injured while rushing out of the plane.

UNSMIL condemned in the strongest possible terms this attack, which terrorised passengers and airport staff alike, calling for immediate cessation of attacks against this vital facility and all civilian infrastructure and properties.

It said this is the seventh occasion since the end of July 2019 that Mitiga airport was hit by indiscriminate shelling, which is designed to sow fear, create chaos, and disrupt operations at the only working airport in the Libyan capital Tripoli.

UNSMIL reaffirmed that it is documenting the attack on Mitiga Airport for onward transmission to the International Criminal Court and the Security Council, saying that those behind the attacks should be held accountable.

The mission reiterated that according to the provisions of International Humanitarian Law and International Human rights Law, indiscriminate attacks that result in death or injury to civilians may constitute war crimes.

On the ground, the latest LNA military operation that started in April in Tripoli made a reshuffle to the military and political cards and one vital card of them is the Tripoli International Airport frontline as all parties sees it a pivotal position to control.

The developments on the Airport frontline was in line with heavy airstrikes against Government of National Accord’s armed groups on both the Airport frontline and Ain Zara in an attempt to exhaust GNA forces.