Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, launched several airstrikes against ISIS terrorists in al-Haruj Mountains, in southwest Libya.
The National Army did not comment on the operation, but its Military Information Division issued a brief statement announcing that the air force launched a series of raids on a site of terrorist groups in the mountains.
Last Thursday, LNA spokesman Major General Ahmed al-Mismari announced a military operation against terrorists in the south of the country, after the commander of al-Waw Brigade, Ali al-Tabawi was killed by a landmine explosion during a reconnaissance patrol in the Haruj Mountains.
ISIS remnants reside only in the deserts in southern Libya, after they were active in separate parts of the country. Over four years ago, forces affiliated with the Tripoli government launched a major offensive to liberate Sirte, ISIS’ main stronghold.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called upon members of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) to convene in person in Switzerland on June 28, hours before the meeting of the 5 + 5 Joint Military Committee (JMC) in Sirte.
The JMC meeting on Sunday will include LNA representatives and forces affiliated with the unity government headed by Abdulhamid Dbeibeh.
The Military Committee will hold its fifth meeting at its headquarters in Sirte to resume discussion of the ceasefire mechanism, which was signed in Geneva in October 2020.
The meeting will also discuss the reports of the security and police sub-committees and the removal of mines, ahead of opening the Sirte-Misrata coastal road.
The committee will address removing foreign mercenaries from Libyan territory.
However, LNA commander Major General Khaled al-Mahjoub and JMC member Major General Khairy al-Tamimi denied any positive development in the issue of removing mercenaries and foreign forces from Libyan territories.
They said in televised statements that the interests of the countries involved in Libya, in addition to the mercenary issue, prevent a breakthrough in the meetings of the committee.
Furthermore, the spokesman for the Volcano of Rage operation announced that the opening of the coastal road will take place soon, after reaching an agreement between the government and the Sirte-Jufra Liberation Operations Room.
Earlier, head of the Presidential Council Mohammed Menfi asked his loyal forces to open the coastal road. However, they demanded the redeployment of LNA in the vicinity of the road linking the east and west of the country, and the withdrawal of its “loyal mercenaries”.