No information was provided by GNA AF this week. Only two photos taken by BBC correspondent, Quentin Sommerville, currently in Sirte, showing one of the two MiG-23MLD and one S100 Camcopter belonging to GNA in the sky of the city.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Saturday, June 18, 2016
"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 11 - 17 June 2016
Very little communication on air strikes this week from LNA AF and no information was provided by GNA AF. First footage of a new MiG-21MF (serial number '04') appeared on 11th June. This aircraft is probably one of the six ex-Egyptian MiG-21MFs arrived at Gamal Abdel Nasser airbase near Tobruk on 6th March 2016. First photo was taken at GANAB and second is extracted from a video taken at al-Albraq AB.
Saturday, June 11, 2016
"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 4 - 10 June 2016
GNA forces offensive against ISIS in Sirte
GNA affiliated forces continued their offensive in Sirte last week capturing key points near the city. On 4th June, Misrata militia captured Al Gardabiya airbase. Shortly before, the GNA Air Force performed five successful airstrikes in Al Gardabiya, Abu Hadi and south of Sirte. Libyan fighter jets carried out five other strikes against concentrations of ISIS militants in the vicinity of runway 17. Another five strikes were made against militants fleeing from Al Gardabiya airbase, bringing the number of offensive sorties to ten.
GNA affiliated forces continued their offensive in Sirte last week capturing key points near the city. On 4th June, Misrata militia captured Al Gardabiya airbase. Shortly before, the GNA Air Force performed five successful airstrikes in Al Gardabiya, Abu Hadi and south of Sirte. Libyan fighter jets carried out five other strikes against concentrations of ISIS militants in the vicinity of runway 17. Another five strikes were made against militants fleeing from Al Gardabiya airbase, bringing the number of offensive sorties to ten.
Pictures of airstrikes from LDAF on ISIS positions west of Al-Gardabiya base, south of Sirte (approx 20 km)
Saturday, June 4, 2016
"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 28 May - 3 June 2016
During this week, the GNA Air Force intensified its airstrikes against ISIS positions in Sirte in support of ground troops. It was during one of these air raids that a Mirage F1ED crashed 30 km west of the city of Sirte due to a fuel pump failure. GNA has also lost an air ambulance Mi-8T (serial number '8334') that crashed near Zuwara, west of Tripoli without casualties yesterday.
Friday, June 3, 2016
Libyan Mirage F1ED crashed near Sirte
The GNA (Government of National Accord) Air Force lost one its two Mirage F1EDs in service yesterday evening. The aircraft crashed 30 km west of the city of Sirte due to technical problem (fuel pump failure). The pilot ejected safely and came back to the airbase. One of these aircraft was return to service end of April. The second was waiting for a new engine. The maintenance of the two Mirages was complicated because most of F1 cells left by the former Libyan Air Force were based on al-Watiya airbase captured summer 2014 by the LNA. The Mirage F1 were the spearhead of the former Libya Dawn Air Force and were very involved in the recent bombing in Sirte and Abu Grein. GNA has now only two MiG-23MLDs, one J-21 and a few G-2s and L-39s operational.
Mirage F1ED serial "502" seen at Misrata airbase in April 2016