Al-Manfour: the militias are forcing technicians to rectify a fighter jet to use it against our forces
Maj. Gen. Mohamed Al-Manfour, Commander of the Libyan air forces operation room of the Libyan National Army (LNA) stated the following:
The militias that govern Tripoli had opted the use of Mitiga airport as a safe heaven and used it and still using it for military purposes that continue to treat the safety of the civilian operations to and from this airport.
LNAAF had tried with all possible means to prevent the militias from utilising the Libyan air space and airports and to avoid using it in the current fighting at Tripoli suburbs between LNA and militias controling Tripoli.
It came to our knowledge that the militias are forcing technicians to rectify a fighter jet in order to use it against our forces and that they recruited foreign pilots after the Libyan pilots refussed using those fighter jets against their own army.
We had no option but to send them precautionary message that we can reach, stop and prevent them from using the airport in any military activities.
I would also stress that its within our duties to keep the Libyan airspace and the Libyan airports safe for civilian operations and we hereby call upon Libyan civilian flight operators to continue their normal opertaion toand from Mitiga airport .
