Libyan government forces stated on Tuesday that they pushed back troops of Khalifa Haftar in the Hira area south of the capital Tripoli in a counter-offensive, Reuters reporters, citing witnesses. According to the news agency, at least four soldiers from the Haftar army have been killed as a result.
Earlier in the day, the forces of the Libyan National Army, led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar, shot down a military plane belonging to armed groups and attempted to attack the al-Jufra military airbase, a spokesman for the LNA, Ahmed Al-Mismari, said.
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It is reported that the plane had been shot down by the air defence forces of al-Jufry military airbase.
"Ground defence forces based at al-Jufra were able to shoot down a military plane of terrorist armed groups that tried to attack a military base this morning… There were three planes, two of which fled… A search for the downed plane and pilot is being conducted," the spokesman said.
Khalifa Haftar ordered an offensive to take control of Tripoli from GNA forces in early April, prompting a mobilisation of forces loyal to the GNA. In response, armed forces loyal to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) started a military operation against the LNA.
Libya descended into chaos in 2011, when long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed by rebels backed by NATO.
The power vacuum prompted competing militias, criminal gangs and terrorist groups.
