This archive report was first published on 7 June 2020.
On Saturday, June 6, 2020, the spokesman of Libya's UN-backed government announced the launch of an offensive to take control of the city of Sirte, located 450 kilometers east of the capital Tripoli, from the eastern-based army.
The eastern-based army had withdrawn from western Libya after controlling Tarhuna city, the last stronghold of the rival army in western Libya, located 90 kilometers southeast of Tripoli.
According to the spokesman, the UN-backed government forces launched five airstrikes on the eastern-based army in Sirte, destroying military vehicles.
Libyan MP Mustafa Abu-Shagour confirmed that the UN-backed government had defeated an 'international coalition' that supported the eastern-based army.
"The 14-month epic fight of Tripoli ended with victory of the defenders of the country over the international coalition that brought mercenaries from all over the world to support Haftar, who wanted to destroy Tripoli and destroy the hope of the Libyans for a state," Abu-Shagour said in a statement.
The eastern-based army, led by commander Khalifa Haftar, launched a military campaign in April 2019, attempting to take over Tripoli from the UN-backed government.
The fighting killed and injured hundreds of civilians and forced more than 150,000 others to flee their homes.
