Tripoli’s Only Commercial Airport Targeted By 6 Missiles After Berlin ‘Ceasefire’ Fails

So much for any “progress” or talk of ceasefire touted days ago at the Berlin conference, when world leaders gathered to try and broker Libya peace. Wednesday’s Libya headlines featured rocket attacks on Tripoli’s only functioning international airport, forcing a temporary shutdown of the entire commercial hub. 

Authorities at Tripoli’s Mitiga have said it’s since reopened after being closed for an hour due to six military-grade Grad rockets being fired at the airport. A spokesman for the Government of National Accord (GNA) called the attack a “flagrant threat” air traffic safety and a “new violation” of the ceasefire. 

The GNA statement further blamed the “war criminal Haftar” for the attack, amid his Libyan National Army (LNA) continuing the months long offensive on the capital, part of a broader two-years long campaign to take the entire country and its oil. 

It has only been nine days since Mitiga airport’s reopening following a truce with the LNA, which clearly didn’t hold. In years past, Tripoli International Airport was the major international hub, but had in the years since the 2011 NATO war witnessed intense fighting in its vicinity, causing immense damage. Other than Mitiga, Tripoli residents are often forced to use Misrata Airport, about 125 miles away. 

Turkey has also weighed in on the newest attack and apparent failure the potentially internationally-brokered ceasefire, which also had Russian and Turkish involvement.  “Warlord Haftar, who posed a clear threat against the air traffic in the airport with this assault, has persistently disregarded the ceasefire call of the world,” a top Turkish security official was quoted in Middle East Eye as saying. 

For its part, Haftar’s LNA has alleged Tripoli’s main aviation hub has become a legitimate military target given it’s hosted Turkish aircraft, including according to pro-Haftar forces drone activity. 

#Breaking
Haftar forces downed another Turkish Army-supplied “Bayraktar TB2” drone in #Tripoli after it took off from #Mitiga airport, which seems to be under fire too.
So far for the “ceasefire” in #Libya. pic.twitter.com/d0BlbyWPVB

— Julian Röpcke (@JulianRoepcke) January 22, 2020

Turkish-supplied drones have actually been operating over Tripoli for months, which a handful shot down over the past half-year. There are also reports that Turkey has assisted in setting up anti-air defensive measures in and around Mitiga airport.

Haftar last Saturday took the drastic step of blocking all Libyan oil exports, slashing production by at least 50%, in protest of Turkey’s military intervention on behalf of Tripoli.