A fighter of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) observes during clashes with the eastern-based army in Sawani frontline in Tripoli, Libya, on Feb. 12, 2020. The eastern-based army in Libya has been leading a military campaign in and around the capital Tripoli since April 2019, attempting to take over the city and topple the rival UN-backed government. (Photo by Amru Salahuddien/Xinhua)
TRIPOLI, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Wednesday said that the eastern-based army had denied to grant permission for the mission's planes to land in Libya.
"The UN in Libya regrets that its regular flights, which transport its staff to and from Libya, are not granted permission by the LNA to land in Libya. This practice has been repeated on several occasions in the past weeks," UNSMIL said in a statement.
The eastern-based army's move "will severely hinder UN's humanitarian effort at a time when all UN staff are working relentlessly to push forward the ongoing intra-Libyan dialogue and to provide humanitarian assistance to the civilians," the statement said.
In late November of 2019, the eastern-based army announced the imposition of a no-fly zone in and around the capital Tripoli where the armed conflict between the eastern-based army and the UN-backed government continues.
On Jan. 8, the eastern-based army expanded the no-fly zone to Tripoli's Mitiga International Airport.
The army has been leading a military campaign in and around Tripoli since early April 2019, attempting to take over the city and topple the rival UN-backed government.
The fighting has killed and injured thousands of people, and displaced more than 150,000 civilians away from their homes.
