Led by Khalifa Haftar, the Libyan National Army (LNA) forces have announced that they have declared Tripoli and its surrounding areas "no-fly zone", threatening to hit civilian airplanes flying nearby.

 

In a statement for the press broadcast on social media, LNA Spokesperson Ahmed al-Mismari has announced that they have declared the off-limit area from Giryan, 120 kilometers south of the capital, to Terhune, 90 kilometers southeast and to Tripoli beach, including Mitiga Airport in the capital.

 

Indicating that all civilian and military airplanes within the declared zone, including Mitiga Airport, will be considered "legitimate targets", Spokesperson al-Mismari has added that the air forces and air defense systems have started to execute the no-fly order.

 

Earlier yesterday (January 22), Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) announced that Haftar forces hit Mitiga Airport in Tripoli with six grad missiles.

 

In a statement released by GNA Spokesperson Muhammad Kununu, it was stressed that the attack openly threatened the air traffic, leading to some setbacks in flights. Airplanes could land with delay.

 

Having convened in the capital city of Germany to establish a permanent ceasefire and initiate a political process in Libya, the Berlin Conference on Libya came to an end on January 19.

 

In the conclusions of the Berlin Conference released shortly afterwards, leaders have called for the termination of all military movements in and and over the entire territory of Libya and for full respect for the arms embargo established by the UN Security Council.