TRIPOLI, Libya

Egypt said Thursday that Libyan Airlines will resume flights to the country after a 16-month hiatus.

Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority Director Ashraf Noyer said flights "will start today, Thursday, from Benina airport in Benghazi to Burj Al Arab airport in Alexandria."

"This will be followed next week by the departure of flights from Mitiga airport in Tripoli to Burj Al Arab airport,” he said.

Libyan Airlines suspended flights to Egypt In November 2019 after one of its planes was forced to land by forces loyal to Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar after it took off from Benina International Airport in Benghazi.

A Libyan Airlines plane from Tripoli landed at Benina airport last week to resume flight operations between the two cities after a hiatus of nearly two years.

Egyptian delegations visited Tripoli and met with Libyan officials up until 2014, but visits were stopped after Haftar forces were expelled from the capital.

Libya's rival political groups agreed earlier this month to form an interim unity government that will lead the country until elections are held in December.

Mohammad Younes Menfi was elected president of the interim setup with Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh as prime minister.

*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara