The Libyan National Army, led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar, announced that its forces have destroyed the largest depot of Turkish military equipment belonging to forces loyal to Fayez al-Sarraj’s Government of National Accord (GNA) in the western city of Misrata.
Commander of the LNA Air Force's Operations Room Major General Mohammed al-Manfour said his forces downed late Thursday a Turkish Bayraktar TB2 plane in Tamina, in the air college’s southeastern area in Misrata.
Manfour said the operation was carried out while the plane was returning to the college after carrying out combat missions against the army in the capital, Tripoli.
LNA’s Military Information Division confirmed this information and said its air defenses shot down a drone that attempted to raid army positions.
LNA spokesman Major General Ahmed al-Mesmari, for his part, said in a statement on Friday that “LNA’s air forces launched several airstrikes, targeting al-Hamiya GNA camp near Misrata, resulting in several large explosions.
He explained that the airstrikes followed information by the intelligence and reconnaissance teams, who were able to discover and locate these targets, which were used for storing Turkish ammunition and air defense equipment.
“The LNA congratulates all its personnel, intelligence services, and the Libyan Air Force on the success of this operation in destroying the largest arms and equipment depot in Misrata that threatened the security and safety of the armed forces and civilians,” Mesmari said.
He warned any armed group or militia against threatening the LNA forces' and civilians’ safety by importing or any weapons and ammunition from abroad to be used against the army or civilians.
“Libyan territory is under LNA’s control, and these weapons and equipment will be targeted anywhere,” he stressed.
In Tripoli, LNA’s Karama Operations Room media center said that its air force has targeted the main position of Bab Tajoura militia and killed a number of terrorist militia elements.