LNA continues with airstrikes in Tripoli and Misrata, including Mitiga airport

On 3 November, a spokesperson for the Government of National Accord’s (GNA) Volcano of Rage Operation said that the Libyan National Army (LNA) had conducted four airstrikes against Tripoli’s Mitiga airport, forcing a passenger plane flying from Tunisia to nearby Misrata airport to be rerouted. It is not clear whether any damage was caused by the attack. The LNA confirmed the strike on the “military parts” of Mitiga airport, targeting “storage facilities used to prepare unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and store ammunition”. This comes after the GNA formally reopened Mitiga airport on 29 October and said that they planned to resume flights in the next two weeksThe LNA appears to be pushing for territorial advances on the ground in Tripoli and as such LNA airstrikes against strategic targets in Tripoli, Misrata and locations west of Tripoli are likely to continue in the short term. Likewise, LNA forces are likely to continue to attempt to gain ground along the Tripoli frontlines, in particular along the southwestern and central axes. However, unless it receives a major influx of foreign support or additional manpower, it remains unlikely that the LNA will succeed in taking control of Tripoli in the short term.