Libya Reopens Airport after 2 Months of Closure

Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord on Tuesday reopened Mitiga Airport, Tripoli’s only functioning airport, after almost two months of closure, the transportation minister said.

The Minister, Milad Matoq, announced at a news conference in Tripoli.

The airport had been shut since Sept. 1 after being struck by artillery fire. The source of the attack was not clear.

“The return of flights depends on the carriers and airport management. It needs time to re-schedule flights, possible a week to 10 days or two weeks,” Matoq said.

Mitiga, just east of central Tripoli, has repeatedly come under attack in recent months, forcing it to halt flights for several hours.

The airport has been targeted during fighting involving the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), which launched an offensive in April for control of the capital and which has been battling forces aligned with the GNA.

The LNA, which has previously carried out airstrikes against the airport, had said it was targeting an operations room for Turkish drones at the facility.

October 29, 2019