This archive report was first published on 5 June 2020.
On June 5, 2020, forces loyal to Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) celebrated a major victory against rival strongman Khalifa Haftar after overrunning his last western stronghold, Tarhuna.
Located southeast of the capital, Tripoli, Tarhuna was the main rear base for Haftar's devastating 14-month assault on the city. The recapture of Tarhuna capped a week of significant gains for the GNA, which had already reestablished control over the whole of Greater Tripoli with Turkish military support.
"Our heroic forces have extended their control over the whole of Tarhuna," said GNA spokesman Mohamad Gnounou.
As GNA forces celebrated their victory, they flashed the victory sign in the town's streets, with some fighters riding on top of pick-up trucks and others clambering over a tank.
The recapture of Tarhuna marks a significant turning point in the conflict, which has seen hundreds of people killed and 200,000 displaced since Haftar launched his assault on Tripoli in April 2019.
Haftar's forces have suffered a string of defeats in recent months, including the loss of a string of towns along the Mediterranean coast between Tripoli and the Tunisian border.
Earlier this year, UN experts said hundreds of mercenaries from the Russian paramilitary organisation, the Wagner Group, were fighting for Haftar. However, last month, the GNA said Wagner Group fighters had withdrawn from combat zones south of the capital.
Libya has endured years of violence since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with rival administrations and scores of militias battling for power.
The United Nations has urged outside powers to respect a deal reached at a January conference in Berlin, ending foreign meddling and upholding a much-violated arms embargo.
