The Battle for Tripoli: Libya erupts into civil war as rebel army commander launches airstrikes on the capital in defiance of a UN truce

• Troops led by Khalifa Hafter advancing on Tripoli have carried out an air strike 
• Latest stage of four-day offensive by the force, which backs rival administration
• UN-backed government has announced a ‘Volcano Of Rage’ counter-offensive  

Libya has erupted into civil war as the rebel army commander Khalifa Hafter launched airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Tripoli in defiance of a UN truce.

It is the latest stage of a four-day offensive by Haftar’s force, which backs a rival administration in the east, against the home of the internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA). It has so far claimed 21 lives.

The airstrikes have prompted a ‘Volcano Of Rage’ counter-offensive by the GNA, with a spokesman claiming advancing government forces had already captured several of Hafter’s armoured vehicles.

Members of the rebel Libyan National Army, (LNA) commanded by Khalifa Haftar, head out of Benghazi to reinforce the troops advancing to Tripoli today

Troops with the LNA pose for pictures on their armoured cars. Government forces have announced a ‘Volcano Of Rage’ counter-offensive 

The offensive intensifies a power struggle that has fractured the oil and gas producer since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

Hafter’s troops, which called themselves the Libyan National Army, claim to have reached the southern outskirts and taken its former international airport, though the Tripoli military officials deny this.

A war plane carried out an air strike in the same area, a resident and eastern military source said. No more details were immediately available.

The UN Mission to Libya today for a truce for two hours in southern Tripoli to evacuate civilians and wounded, it said in a statement without giving details.

In another sign of the situation worsening on the ground, a contingent of US forces evacuated the country for security reasons.

The offensive has taken the UN by surprise, undermining plan to find agreement on a path to elections to resolve the protracted instability in Libya.

Haftar’s troops (pictured) are thought to have reached the southern outskirts and taken its former international airport, though the Tripoli military officials deny this

The country is a transit point for refugees and migrants trekking across the Sahara with the objective of reaching Europe across the Mediterranean Sea to the north.

Haftar, 75, who casts himself as a foe of Islamist extremism but is viewed by opponents as a new dictator in the mould of Gaddafi, enjoys the backing of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, which see him as a bulwark against Islamists and have supported him militarily.

The UAE, however, has joined Western countries in expressing its deep concern about the fighting.

In the past, Haftar has struck deals with armed factions outside Tripoli to advance his forces. But gaining control of Tripoli – the ultimate prize for Haftar’s eastern parallel government – would be far more complicated.

Armed groups allied to the Tripoli government have moved more machinegun-mounted pickup trucks from Misrata to Tripoli to defend it against Haftar’s forces.

In a press briefing on Sunday from Tripoli, Libyan Army spokesman Mohammed Gununu said his forces have firm and accurate tactics that will foil all attacks by Haftar’s forces

The city is known for a spirit of resisting ‘old regime’ figures, developed during 2011 when pro-Gaddafi forces besieged it for three months.

In a press briefing on Sunday from Tripoli, Libyan Army spokesman Mohammed Gununu said his forces have firm and accurate tactics that will foil all attacks by Haftar’s forces on Tripoli.

‘The Libyan Army rejects coups and militarization of the state. Libya will always be a civilian state and the army will protect it and secure the people.’ he said.

‘This attack is a surprising one that destroyed the Libyans’ hopes for democracy as all of them were preparing for the upcoming national conference in Ghadames.’

It was also claimed by the GNA that it had ‘taken dozens of captives from Haftar’s troops, confiscated many vehicles and repelled rival troops’ from the boundaries of the city of Gharyan. 

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