How far can Haftar get with his Tripoli offensive?
5 years, 9 months ago

How far can Haftar get with his Tripoli offensive?

Al Jazeera  

On April 4, Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar announced in a voice recording circulated online that he was launching a military campaign to take over the capital, Tripoli. His media office then released a video purporting to show tens of armoured vehicles bearing the emblems of Haftar’s “Libyan National Army” heading towards the Libyan capital. After securing full control over Benghazi in eastern Libya in 2017, over the past year, Haftar has steadily pressed on to expand the territories under his control, while also engaging in talks with the GNA In January, his forces launched an operation to take over major oilfields in the south and by the end of the month were able to enter Sabha, the largest city in southern Libya. The timid response by the international community to his offensive on Tripoli – which was launched as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was visiting the Libyan capital – shows that many countries consider Haftar as the solution for Libya, not just the UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

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History of this topic

Libya: Haftar stands down from military role before polls
3 years, 3 months ago

Libya: Haftar stands down from military role before polls

Al Jazeera  

Libyan media said move paves way for Haftar to run for president under controversial new law. Libya’s eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar has paved the way to take part in December’s proposed presidential election after saying he would step down from his military role for three months. Libyan media said the step opens the way for Haftar to run as a …

Libya: Military movements banned after Haftar’s border takeover
3 years, 6 months ago

Libya: Military movements banned after Haftar’s border takeover

Al Jazeera  

The statement came after forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar said they have taken control of a border crossing with Algeria. Libya’s presidential council has banned any military movement across the country without its approval after forces loyal to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar said they took control of a border crossing with Algeria and declared it a military zone. “The …

Libya: The battle for Tripoli explained in 600 words
4 years, 7 months ago

Libya: The battle for Tripoli explained in 600 words

Al Jazeera  

After 14 months and hundreds of lives lost, renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar’s attempt to seize Tripoli and become Libya’s ruler is effectively over. On Friday, forces loyal to the United Nations-recognised Government of National Accord swept through the city of Tarhuna, Haftar’s last stronghold in western Libya. Washington, however, seems to have walked back on its initial position of …

Is Libya’s Khalifa Haftar on the way out?
4 years, 7 months ago

Is Libya’s Khalifa Haftar on the way out?

Al Jazeera  

Eastern-based military commander’s setbacks in Tripoli are causing his domestic support base to fragment, analysts say. The defeat, which LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari sought to justify as a “tactical withdrawal”, has put the eastern-based Haftar in a difficult position, with his ability to keep his support base mobilised increasingly being questioned. Haftar’s narrative of having the will and, indeed, the …

Libya: GNA recaptures towns near Tunisia border from Haftar
4 years, 7 months ago

Libya: GNA recaptures towns near Tunisia border from Haftar

Al Jazeera  

Forces allied with Libya’s internationally-recognised Government of National Accord say they have recaptured two towns near the Tunisian border from eastern-based renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar’s forces. After losing control of the base, Ahmed al-Mesmari, the spokesperson for Haftar’s Libyan National Army said on Tuesday Libya’s eastern-based forces had withdrawn from some embattled areas of the capital Tripoli. Al Jazeera’s …

Libya’s GNA recaptures strategic al-Watiya airbase
4 years, 7 months ago

Libya’s GNA recaptures strategic al-Watiya airbase

Al Jazeera  

Announcement by Tripoli-based administration comes after month-long offensive against forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar. Libya’s internationally-recognised government says it has captured the strategic al-Watiya airbase from fighters loyal to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar. The announcement by the administration of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj came after a month-long counteroffensive that has seen forces allied to it drive Haftar’s troops out …

Haftar dismisses UN Libya unity deal as ‘thing of the past’
4 years, 8 months ago

Haftar dismisses UN Libya unity deal as ‘thing of the past’

Al Jazeera  

Eastern-based renegade general says 2015 landmark agreement ‘destroyed the country’ and new institutions are needed. Libya’s eastern-based renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar has declared a landmark 2015 United Nations-brokered agreement to unite the country “a thing of the past”, and pledged his authorities would move towards creating a new government. Haftar did not make clear whether an elected parliament in …

Can Libya’s Khalifa Haftar pull back following Tripoli defeat?
4 years, 8 months ago

Can Libya’s Khalifa Haftar pull back following Tripoli defeat?

Al Jazeera  

Amid global economic downturn, analysts say it’s unclear if foreign supporters will continue to bankroll the strongman. 200104110325735 “Haftar’s loss of an area estimated at 500-square kilometres is an event of seismic magnitude both for him and his foreign supporters,” said Walid Ratima, a Turkey-based Libyan columnist. “His defeats will sooner or later … force his supporters to find other …

Timeline: Haftar’s months-long offensive to seize Tripoli
4 years, 10 months ago

Timeline: Haftar’s months-long offensive to seize Tripoli

Al Jazeera  

Overview of major events since the launch of a military push by eastern-based forces to capture Libya’s capital. A months-long offensive by forces loyal to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar to seize Libya’s capital from the UN-recognised government has killed hundreds of people and drawn increasing foreign involvement. UN: Concern over Tripoli battle UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres meets Haftar on …

Haftar’s forces hit Tripoli port as Geneva ceasefire talks resume
4 years, 10 months ago

Haftar’s forces hit Tripoli port as Geneva ceasefire talks resume

Al Jazeera  

Libya‘s warring sides have resumed UN-brokered talks in Geneva aimed at establishing a lasting ceasefire, even as eastern-based forces stepped up their assault on the capital, Tripoli, hitting its port. ‘Keep the diplomatic momentum’ Meanwhile in Geneva, five military representatives from the GNA and another five from Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army held indirect talks, more than a week after …

Libya heading towards ‘full-blown’ war despite ceasefire
4 years, 11 months ago

Libya heading towards ‘full-blown’ war despite ceasefire

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “First slow and intermittent, now nearly full-blown.” The Tripoli …

Libyan forces loyal to Haftar announce conditional ceasefire
4 years, 11 months ago

Libyan forces loyal to Haftar announce conditional ceasefire

Al Jazeera  

Ceasefire might prove hard to maintain following escalation of fighting around Tripoli, Sirte and nature of alliances. Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army on Thursday rebuffed a call by Turkey and Russia for the warring parties to declare a ceasefire amid clashes and air raids in a conflict drawing increasing foreign involvement and concern. That’s the main issue here.” A senior …

Libya’s war: Who is supporting whom
5 years ago

Libya’s war: Who is supporting whom

Al Jazeera  

Al Jazeera takes a look at the foreign actors invested in the Libyan conflict and who they are siding with. Since renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive on Libya’s capital Tripoli in April, the conflict in the North African country has ground to a standstill. 190423174812673 That stance, however, is counterweighed by France’s diplomatic support for Haftar, which …

Libya’s Haftar announces ‘decisive battle’ to capture Tripoli
5 years ago

Libya’s Haftar announces ‘decisive battle’ to capture Tripoli

Al Jazeera  

Commander of self-styled Libyan National Army says ‘zero hour has come for broad, total assault’ to take over capital. Libya‘s renegade General Khalifa Haftar has announced that a “decisive battle” to capture the capital, Tripoli, will commence imminently, eight months after he launched his offensive to wrest it from the internationally recognised government. “Zero hour has come for the broad …

Haftar army threatens to launch more strikes in Libya
5 years, 6 months ago

Haftar army threatens to launch more strikes in Libya

Deccan Chronicle  

Tripoli: A day after five soldiers were killed in air raids, forces loyal to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar on Tuesday threatened a new air strike in order to "liberate Tripoli". Urging residents to stay away from what he called "confrontation areas", air force commander Mohamed Manfour of Haftar's Libyan National Army said on Monday that aerial bombardment will be …

Haftar’s forces step up air raids after loss of strategic city
5 years, 6 months ago

Haftar’s forces step up air raids after loss of strategic city

Al Jazeera  

Analysts say the escalation comes after the LNA lost control of its forward base in Gharyan, south of Tripoli. Forces loyal to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar threatened a barrage of new air strikes on Libya’s capital, a day after five soldiers were killed in air raids on Tripoli. Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud Abdelwahed, reporting from Tripoli, said five fighters aligned …

Hifter’s forces push toward Libyan capital city’s center
5 years, 7 months ago

Hifter’s forces push toward Libyan capital city’s center

Associated Press  

CAIRO — Heavy clashes have been slowly nearing the center of Libya’s capital, Tripoli, as forces loyal to the military commander Khalifa Hifter battle to seize power, an official and residents said Monday. Hifter has said he won’t stop his offensive as long as the militias remained in control of Tripoli — and, he claimed, the militias remain in control …

Trump praises Haftar in apparent reversal of US policy on Libya
5 years, 8 months ago

Trump praises Haftar in apparent reversal of US policy on Libya

Al Jazeera  

In apparent reversal of US policy, Trump praises Haftar for fighting ‘terrorism’ and securing Libya’s oil resources. Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, on Friday after US President Donald Trump praised Libya’s Khalifa Haftar amid a military assault by the renegade general to seize the capital. In their phone call, Trump “recognised Field Marshal Haftar’s …

Trump praises Libyan general Khalifa Haftar as his troops march on US backed government in Tripoli
5 years, 8 months ago

Trump praises Libyan general Khalifa Haftar as his troops march on US backed government in Tripoli

CNN  

CNN — President Donald Trump spoke with Libyan general Khalifa Haftar Monday, praising his role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya’s vast oil resources even as Haftar’s troops continue their offensive against the UN and US-backed government in the Libyan capital of Tripoli. Trump “recognized Field Marshal Haftar’s significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya’s oil resources, and the …

Libya: Trump can’t straddle two horses in this civil war (opinion)
5 years, 8 months ago

Libya: Trump can’t straddle two horses in this civil war (opinion)

CNN  

Editor’s Note: David A. Andelman, executive director of The RedLines Project, is a contributor to CNN where his columns won the Deadline Club Award for Best Opinion Writing. And Libya, fractured into two halves after the Arab Spring – the west ruled by Tripoli and the east ruled from Benghazi by insurgents – could easily fall prey to forces antithetical …

Will Haftar succeed in taking Tripoli?
5 years, 8 months ago

Will Haftar succeed in taking Tripoli?

Al Jazeera  

There are three possible outcomes of the ongoing military conflict in western Libya. On April 3, renegade military leader Khalifa Haftar announced an offensive on Tripoli to “liberate” the capital and the entire west of Libya from the UN-recognised Government of National Accord, headed by Fayez al-Sarraj. Such a political deal would have put an end to Haftar’s personal ambitions …

Libya clashes over Tripoli escalate as city’s airport is hit
5 years, 9 months ago

Libya clashes over Tripoli escalate as city’s airport is hit

Associated Press  

BENGHAZI, Libya — Clashes between rival Libyan forces for control of Tripoli escalated on Monday as the death toll from days of fighting rose to at least 51, including both combatants and civilians, and the city’s only functioning airport said it was hit by an airstrike. The World Health Organization said two doctors were killed trying to “evacuate wounded patients …

CRPF Contingent Evacuated From Libya After Crisis Worsens: Sushma
5 years, 9 months ago

CRPF Contingent Evacuated From Libya After Crisis Worsens: Sushma

The Quint  

The self-styled Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Haftar ordered his forces on Thursday to take over the capital, Tripoli which is the seat of the UN-backed government. Haftar said his forces had launched airstrikes targeting rival militias on the outskirts of Tripoli. The rival militias, which are affiliated with a UN-backed government in Tripoli, said they had also carried out …

Libya: Air raids target Haftar’s advancing forces near Tripoli
5 years, 9 months ago

Libya: Air raids target Haftar’s advancing forces near Tripoli

Al Jazeera  

As global powers plead for de-escalation, LNA troops clash with forces loyal to UN-backed government near Libya capital. ‘Sporadic fighting’ Al Jazeera’s Abdelwahed said the area surrounding the airport and a clutch of other nearby neighbourhoods were “witnessing military deployments and sporadic fighting”, accounting for one of four “major confrontation” zones. 190405214022194 In response to Haftar’s drive, the GNA has …

UN to Libya’s Haftar: Halt and de-escalate advance on Tripoli
5 years, 9 months ago

UN to Libya’s Haftar: Halt and de-escalate advance on Tripoli

Al Jazeera  

In emergency session, UN Security Council calls on Haftar to stop military march on Tripoli, amid reports of fighting. The United Nations Security Council and the G7 are calling on troops loyal to Libya’s renegade General Khalifa Haftar to “halt” their military advance on Tripoli as clashes near the capital prompted concerns of a wider escalation in the North African …

Libyan army commander orders forces to march on Tripoli
5 years, 9 months ago

Libyan army commander orders forces to march on Tripoli

Associated Press  

BENGHAZI, Libya — Libyan army commander Khalifa Hifter on Thursday ordered his forces to march on Tripoli, the capital of the U.N.-backed government, sparking fears of a major showdown with rival militias. Hifter described his forces’ move as a “victorious march” to “shake the lands under the feet of the unjust bunch.” “We are coming Tripoli, we are coming,” he …

Libya: High alert in Tripoli after renegade leader orders advance
5 years, 9 months ago

Libya: High alert in Tripoli after renegade leader orders advance

Al Jazeera  

Tensions rise as renegade General Khalifa Haftar orders his forces to move on Libyan capital in a ‘victorious march’. UN peace efforts The advance by Haftar’s forces prompted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who was in Tripoli on Thursday for talks with Sarraj, to voice his “deep concern”. “The Libyan people should resist and fight against Haftar’s forces in Tripoli in …

A US citizen wants to overthrow a US-backed government in Libya. Here’s why
5 years, 9 months ago

A US citizen wants to overthrow a US-backed government in Libya. Here’s why

CNN  

CNN — After several days of aggressive military advances, the spotlight is on Libya once again. At the heart of this is Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, now leading the current move by forces from the east of the country towards the capital Tripoli. It is unclear how serious Haftar is about moving into Tripoli, the heavily populated capital where warring …

Libya army leader Khalifa Haftar orders forces to march on Tripoli
5 years, 9 months ago

Libya army leader Khalifa Haftar orders forces to march on Tripoli

LA Times  

Libyan military leader Khalifa Haftar attends a military parade in the eastern city of Benghazi on May 07, 2018. Libyan army commander Khalifa Haftar on Thursday ordered his forces to march on Tripoli, the capital of the U.N.-backed government, sparking fears of a major showdown with rival militias. Haftar described his forces’ move as a “victorious march” to “shake the …

‘Brief skirmish’ near Libya’s Tripoli as Haftar’s LNA heads west
5 years, 9 months ago

‘Brief skirmish’ near Libya’s Tripoli as Haftar’s LNA heads west

Al Jazeera  

Report of clash comes as Tripoli gov’t declares alert after Haftar forces say ready to cleanse ‘west from terrorists’. Libya’s internationally recognised government in Tripoli has declared a military alert after eastern forces loyal to renegade General Khalifa Haftar said they had moved towards the western part of the country. A brief skirmish between Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army and …

Haftar forces ‘killed civilians’ in Libya attack
5 years, 10 months ago

Haftar forces ‘killed civilians’ in Libya attack

Al Jazeera  

MP says fighters loyal to renegade general killed 19 and set fire to homes in southern city of Murzuq. At least 19 people have been killed in southern Libya, according to a member of parliament, as forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar fought for control of oilfields in the region. Speaking to Al Jazeera late on Sunday, Mohamed Linu, a …

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