According to reporting coming out of the MENA (Middle East North Africa) region, forces loyal to Libya’s internationally recognized government, the Government of National Accord (GNA), have recaptured the last major stronghold of opposition forces led by former general Khalifa Haftar. Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) was forced out of the town Tarhouna near the capitol city Tripoli.
A spokesman for the LNA confirmed that its forces had withdrawn from Tarhouna where they had dominated in the ongoing battle for over a year.
The GNA has been backed by Turkey, while Haftar, whose LNA still controls the east and oil fields in the south, has been supported by Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
Earlier this week, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said that it welcomed the acceptance by the GNA and LNA of the resumption of talks on a ceasefire and associated security arrangements based on the draft agreement submitted by UNSMIL to the parties during the Joint Military Commission talks (5 + 5) (JMC) in February. The new round of the JMC negotiations will be held via videoconference in light of current circumstances and the JMC hopes that the same professional, serious and responsible spirit that characterized the first and second rounds in Geneva will prevail in these talks.