The Libyan National Army (LNA) announced in the late hours of July 4 that its Air Defense Force had shot down a warplane that was supporting forces loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) southeast of the countries’ capital, Tripoli. “The air-defenses have shot down an L-39 [warplane] killing its pilot after it took off from the Air Academy in Misrata to bomb the civilians in Tarhunah,” Ahmed al-Mismari, a spokesman for the Libyan National Army (LNA), said in a short press release.
Libyan sources released several photos showing the wreckage of the downed L-39, confirming the LNA’s claims. The LNA’s Air Defense Force operates at least one Soviet-made 2K12 Kub [SA-6] medium-range air-defense system. The UAE also deployed one Pantsir-S1 short-range air-defense system in the central part of Libya last month. A day earlier, GNA warplanes killed two civilians and injured four others in area of Sidi Sayih in the outskirt of Tripoli. This incident may have encouraged the LNA to stationed its air-defense systems closer to the capital. Libyan Warplanes Destroy Drone Control Center In Tripoli’s Outskirt Warplanes of the Libyan Air Force (LAF) carried out several airstrikes on an alleged unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control center in the outskirts of the country’s capital, Tripoli, on July 3. “Our air force has destroyed the main UAV control center inside Mitiga airport [east of Tripoli],” Ahmed al-Mismari, a spokesman for the Libyan National Army (LNA), said in a short press release.
Al-Mismari didn’t provide any additional information on the control center. However, the center could be related to the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 unnamed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) spotted around Tripoli, last month. Mitiga Airport was targeted by the LAF several times over the last few weeks. The most recent, airstrike, that occurred on June 30, targeted a UAV shelter inside the aiprot. The LAF’s recent airstrikes are likely a part of the LNA’s ongoing preparations to recapture the town of Garyan from the Government of National Accord (GNA).
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