Haftar forces disable Tripoli's only functional airport with an air strike
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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/08/eu-uk-urges-france-to-condemn-khalifa-haftar-assault-on-tripoli
A warplane has attacked the only functioning airport in Tripoli as fighting between forces loyal to the Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar and rival militias escalated and EU foreign ministers met in Brussels to try to de-escalate the violence.
Mitiga airport, in an eastern suburb of the capital, was closed after it was hit in an airstrike by pro-Haftar forces. Passengers could be seen leaving the terminal, a Reuters correspondent at the airport said. Fighting was also under way at Tripoli’s international airport, 15 miles from the city centre, which has not been functioning since fighting destroyed much of it in 2014.
A UK-led move to pass a security council statement condemning Haftar at the UN in New York on Sunday was blocked by Russia, which insisted all sides should be urged to show restraint. The UK draft would also have called “for those who undermine Libya’s peace and security to be held to account” and renewed support for a national conference to be held this month on holding elections.
From what I have been reading, they may have also effectively knocked out any anti-air capability belonging to the Tripoli government. It's fair to say that unless NATO steps in, the Tripoli government is on it's deathbed. Once you lose air support/control of the skies, you may as well kiss your ass goodbye.
Gaddafi 2: electric boogaloo?
Sadly Russia and other powers backing Haftar seem to be keen on once again stonewalling any real intl. response to this new wannabe dictator's aims.
Not only is Haftar nearly triple the age of Gaddafi from when he came into power, so it's not likely to last, but even after research I honestly can't pin his politics. Even if I could though, he won't be anywhere near the same caliber as Gaddafi should he come into power. Tragically I think it'll just be another war-torn country ruled by a warlord.
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