On April 4, forces loyal to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar launched a surprise attack on the Libyan capital, Tripoli, in an attempt to remove the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA).

Claiming that he is fighting “terrorism” and trying to stabilise Libya, Haftar - who is backed by the Tobruk-based House of Representatives - has sought to defeat the militias that support the GNA, which is headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.

Since the toppling of long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011, a series of governments have failed to demobilise and reintegrate a number of armed groups that had risen to prominence during the revolution.

Haftar’s attack has failed to achieve any of its objectives thus far, with his eastern-based forces struggling to break through the GNA’s front lines along the capital’s southern outskirts.

Both sides have been fighting skirmishes within an area only a few kilometres wide despite interventions from the air force and heavy artilleries.