By Ajnadin Mustapha.
Tripoli, 16 February 2015:
The Libyan Airforce has announced the closure of Libyan airspace for military operations and warned civilians . . .[restrict]to stay away from potential militia targets in Libya Dawn areas.
The Airforce said that Libya, along with Egypt had alerted the United Nations to the complete flight ban which is immediate.
The Airforce also used its Facebook page, to caution people living in Ghariyan, Sabratha, Zawia, Zuwara, Ajilat, Al Mshashya, Ajmal, S and Misrata to be aware of the risk of air attacks.
That statement follows the announcement by the Libyan Army that it had been “coordinating” with Cairo over the attacks on Derna by the Egyptian Airforce. It also reprised the threat from the Egyptian government that this morning’s raid on Derna was “only the beginning”.
There was no indication that Egyptian warplanes might now be involved in attacks on targets other than IS and Ansar Al-Sharia. However Egypt, along with the UAE, was widely believed to have been responsible for attacks last year on Libya Dawn militia positions. Cairo has ever since vigorously denied any involvement in the operations.
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