On May 2nd, the UAE said that “extremist militias” control the Libyan capital Tripoli and expressed its support for Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA).
Priority in Libya to counter extremism/ terrorism & support stability in long drawn out crisis. Abudhabi agreement offered opportunity to support UN led process. Meanwhile extremist militias continue to control Capital & derail search for political solution.
— د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) May 2, 2019
The comments by UAE’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, came as lawmakers loyal to Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) called for Haftar to end the LNA’s attack on Tripoli and claimed they were dealing with terrorism adequately enough.
Furthermore, the UAE is allegedly using Chinese-made drones for strikes on Tripoli to assist in Haftar’s offensive.
According to analysts, Aircraft seen circling over the Libyan capital during nighttime raids in recent days were likely Chinese Wing Loong II drones operated by the United Arab Emirates.
“Buying drones from the U.S. takes time, is expensive and there is accountability, but buying Chinese drones is now cheap, fast and no one breathes down your neck — the floodgates are open,” said Jalel Harchaoui of the Clingendael Institute in the Netherlands.
On the ground, clashes between LNA and GNA took place at the Asbiyah and the airport near Tripoli.
– وسط ارتفاع #حدة_الاشتباكات في أكثر من محور؛ قواتنا المسلحة #تُحبـط محاولة #التفاف قامت به المليشيات لتخفيف الضغط على محوري #السبيعة والمطار .
— غصة الخوارج (@LiBya_73) May 2, 2019
LNA airstrike activity continued, with it striking al-Sawani.
استهداف الآليات الميليشيات قبل قليل pic.twitter.com/F9zqumIClo
— ابن ليبيا السرتاوي???? (@MstrMax11) May 2, 2019
Separately, the LNA targeted an area of the al-Zahra bridge in Southern Tripoli.
GNA sources reported airstrikes on Sabea district in southern Tripoli by “foreign drones” supporting LNA forces. Yarmouk camp was targeted by foreign drones as well.
South of Tripoli it was reported that the LNA put the city of Aziziyah under their control once more, as well as the Saadia area. This was realized by the 106th Battalion and the western military zone battalions (Al-Zintan). The LNA forces broke from three sides amid heavy clashes.
#خبر
كتيبة ال106مجحفلة وكتائب المنطقة العسكرية الغربية (الزنتان) الواشيين تقتحم #العزيزية من ثلاث محاور والاشتباكات عنيفة
دعواتكم لقواتكم المسلحة— القري (@FarajAwad) May 2, 2019
The LNA reportedly fully put the al-Sibiyah area south of Tripoli under its control.
مراسل العربية: الجيش الوطني الليبي يسيطر بالكامل على منطقة السبيعة جنوب طرابلس #العربية_عاجل https://t.co/a1vIGVFnOW
— العربية عاجل (@AlArabiya_Brk) May 2, 2019
On the side of the GNA, its forces aid that they were still fighting for Aziziyah and controlled an LNA tank.
عملية «بركان الغضب»: قواتنا تُسيطر على دبابة تابعة لقوات #حفتر كانت تحاول التسلل في #العزيزية pic.twitter.com/9okT6VEkxG
— عين ليبيا (@EanLibya) May 2, 2019
The clashes were still on-going according to the GNA.
The GNA further claimed it was advancing on the Tripoli international airport, which came under LNA control.
عاجل | مصدر عسكري لبانوراما: الجيش يتقدم في مواجهات عنيفة مع قوات #حفتر خلف مطار #طرابلس العالمي.#ليبيا pic.twitter.com/Fflb1K32fN
— ليبيا بانوراما (@lpc_ly) May 2, 2019
Pro-LNA outlet Libya Alahrar TV announced that it had lost contact with wo of its crew, namely, journalist Mohammed al-Qarj and photographer Mohammed al-Shaibani while covering the clashes south of Tripoli.
قناة @libyaalahrartv تعلن فقدان الاتصال بـ اثنين من طاقمها وهما ، الصحفي محمد القرج و المصور محمد الشيباني أثناء تغطيتهما للاشتباكات الدائرة جنوب #طرابلس . pic.twitter.com/YgMz2AwOXW
— Mohammed Ali (@M_abdusamee) May 2, 2019
A short while after the announcement, the GNA Foreign Ministry released a statement saying that the two journalists were arrested.
بيان #وزارة_الخارجية بـ #حكومة_الوفاق الوطني بشأن اعتقال قوات #حفتر لصحفيين تابعين لقناة ليبيا الأحرار pic.twitter.com/iYHZa4ija5
— Libya Alahrar TV – قناة ليبيا الأحرار (@libyaalahrartv) May 2, 2019
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