Haftar’s forces continue push into Tripoli as Libya crisis escalates
- Thread starter 88m3
- Start date
88m3
Fast Money & Foreign Objects
Russian backing but has links to the US as well. Under Trump we're pretty devoid of actual policy goals...
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He basically spent the first 20 years of his career working for Qaddafi, then the next 25 years trying to overthrow Qaddafi with US assistance. Now for the last 5-6 years he's mostly been fighting Islamists and trying to build a base of support in the military, probably with the hopes of attaining a position of power for himself. The USA could conceivably be helping him because he's anti-Islamist, but more likely they want him to stand down because he's making the region unstable and they prefer stability over ideology at this point. Better possibilities for his support are Egypt, Israel, or any other anti-Islamist governments in the region.
ZoeGod
I’m from Brooklyn a place where stars are born.
Not only Russia supports him. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE and even France. Qatar and Turkey support the GNA. So it’s the classic Islamist axis vs secular axis proxy war going on.
Trajan
Veteran
I don't recall the US doing anything to indicate they disapproved of his actions.
He lived in Langley, VA while he was in exile
the fact this dude didn't mention russia is hilarious
Yahoo is now part of Oath
Khalifa Haftar, Libya’s strongest warlord, makes a push for Tripoli
he wen't to the kremlin for money and guns.I don't recall the US doing anything to indicate they disapproved of his actions.
He lived in Langley, VA while he was in exile
literally.
Libya commander Haftar visits Russia ahead of conference - Reuters
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-20/russia-has-a-plan-for-libya-another-qaddafi
In Libya, One of Putin’s Many Bets Is in Play
After Military Push in Syria, Russia Plays Both Sides in Libya
88m3
Fast Money & Foreign Objects
The State Department had put out a statement calling for Haftar to stand down, but it looks like Trump's coming through to make another situation even worse.
Trump recognises Haftar's 'significant role in terror fight'
Anger in Libya's Tripoli after US president speaks with the renegade commander leading an offensive to seize the city.
7 hours ago
Libyan protesters attend a demonstration to demand an end to the Khalifa Haftar's offensive against Tripoli [Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters]
US President Donald Trump has spoken by phone to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar amid a military assault by the renegade general to seize the capital Tripoli from the country's internationally recognised government.
A White House statement on Friday said Trump and Haftar spoke "to discuss ongoing counterterrorism efforts to achieve peace and stability in Libya".
In their phone call, which took place on Monday, Trump "recognised Field Marshal Haftar's significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya's oil resources, and the two discussed a shared vision for Libya's transition to a stable, democratic political system".
It was unclear why the White House waited several days to announce the phone call.
Al Jazeera's Mahmoud Abdelwahed, reporting from Tripoli, said news of the conversation caused anger in the capital with residents perceiving the call as a show of support by Trump for Haftar's offensive.
"People are very angry, thousands of people have come out here on the main streets and squares especially in Tripoli and they are calling on the international community to stop the military aggression by Haftar forces," he said.
At least 2,000 people took part in Friday's protest in Tripoli's Martyrs' Square to protest the push on Tripoli by Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA).
Libyan protesters carry a portrait of French President Emmanuel Macron during a demonstration against Haftar in Tripoli [Mahmud Turkia/AFP]
Abdelrizaq Musheirib, a protester criticised Trump's call to the commander, telling Reuters news agency: "The call has no meaning but we will respond to it."
The LNA launched the military campaign against Tripoli on April 4, saying it wanted to "cleanse" the country's western region of "remaining terrorist groups". Analysts say the offensive is threatening to reignite a full-blown civil war in the oil-rich country, which has been mired in chaos since the NATO-backed toppling of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The fighting on the outskirts of the city has killed at least 213 people and wounded more than 1,000 people, the World Health Organisation said on Friday. More than 25,000 have been displaced, according to the UN.
Haftar backs a rival administration in eastern Libya that refuses to recognise the authority of the UN-recognised Government of National Accord in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj.
World powers divided
Al Jazeera's Rosiland Jordan, reporting from Washington, DC, said the White House's statement on friday appeared to contradict the stand of the United States's Department of State.
"Earlier this week, the State Department put out a statement calling on Haftar to stand down, to halt this military offensive and the US has been working with the UN on trying to broker some sort of a peace accord in that country," she said.
"So, it raises the question whether this is a matter of a US president going against its own foreign policy on a critical global issue such as the issue in Libya."
Jordan added that it was unclear if Trump had initiated the call.
"The White House statement notes that he and Haftar spoke on Monday, it could have been Haftar is looking for some sort of approval on a global stage and made a request to have a conversation with the president," she said.
The announcement came a day after both US and Russia said they could not support a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Libya at this time.
Russia objected to the British-drafted resolution blaming Haftar for the latest flare-up in violence, but the US did not give a reason for its decision. The draft resolution would also call on countries with influence over the warring parties to ensure compliance and for unconditional humanitarian aid access in Libya.
Meanwhile, countries in Europe and the Middle East were also divided on Haftar's offensive on Tripoli.
Italy and France have sparred over Libya in the past, but on Friday foreign ministers of the two countries said they are trying to forge a common strategy on the North African country.
Jean-Yves Le Drian, France's foreign minister, speaking to reporters following a meeting in Rome with his counterpart said "there can be no progress in Libya without a solid Franco-Italian agreement".
Enzo Moavero Milanesi, the Italian minister, said lower-ranking ministry officials will meet next week in the Italian capital "to build the path toward a goal that remains a shared one".
Protesters in Tripoli accused France's President Emmanuel Macron of backing Haftar, but the French embassy in Libya tweeted in Arabic that Paris was "opposed to the attack" on the city.
Haftar enjoys the backing of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which view him as an anchor to restore stability in Libya. But Qatar said an existing UN arms embargo on Libya should be strictly enforced to prevent the commander from receiving arms.
Also on Friday, the UN refugee agency said it evacuated 163 refugees and migrants from Libya to neighbouring Niger, but more than 3,000 others were still trapped in detention centres affected by clashes between the LNA and GNA forces.
Libyan authorities had previously detained the refugees and migrants to stop their passage to Europe.
The UNHCR said the refugees from various African nations included dozens of women and children, who had all been held in detention centres near the frontlines of the conflict.
The agency said it remained "extremely concerned" for the safety of those who remain "trapped" in Libya.
88m3
Fast Money & Foreign Objects
It made we wonder if he issued a statement on the Russian "mercenaries" that tried to wipe out our special forces guys in Syria a year or so back...
"They should've been reinforced more soon"
