the Warlord Khalifa Haftar began his offensive against Libya’s capital in the middle of last week. Even has his strengths, abbreviated LNA, not reached the city centre, but the fighting against the UN-approved government lasts only a couple of miles south and west of the city.
Both sides have confirmed the air raids, and the government has so far reported 25 deaths and 80 injured, while the LNA report that 19 of their warriors died.
want to be anonymous because of security reasons, but he lives in Tripoli and has a background in the analysis of conflicts at the international level. He has closely followed Khalifa Haftar and his LNA, which slowly built up their forces in the eastern parts of the country since longtime leader Muammar Qaddafi was overthrown during the arab spring of 2011, after years of civil strife has followed.
– But this is not the same. Haftar know how to manage a war, and have taken the time to form a plan. He will not withdraw his troops, if he makes it, he loses everything.
Read more: Libya closer to full-scale civil war after the offensive
and the EUROPEAN union have called for an end to the offensive against Tripoli, but to get a hearing. The united nations estimates that at least 2,800 residents so far have fled the city, and according to the man that DN talked with many of those who remain, who choose to stay home from work and school.
– There has not been any full-scale evacuation, but many have left or stay inside. The city feels up to It are hardly any cars on the roads, a stretch that normally would take an hour, you can now run in 15 minutes, ” he says.
Read more: the International staff evacuated from Libya
a long time, he thinks, probably months.
” Hold it as long as I am worried that security in the city should be worse, and that the crime rate will then increase.
Things like electricity supply and internet access is still stable, although he says that the connection has become slower.
” Probably because everyone is constantly trying to check social media for updates on what’s happening. The media here is incredibly bad. Both sides are spreading only lies and hatred, there is no positive message at all.
the intervention from international actors, e.g. the UN, he answers that they probably still would not be able to do anything at this stage.
” Had they really wanted to prevent a war, they would have acted already 2011.
on the other hand, he is happy that the UN is pressing harder on its claims about the hour-long ceasefires every day, to be able to bring in food and bring out the injured.
in the city, and not everyone has the opportunity to leave at the same time, he says that he until further notice will be left.
” as long As they don’t start closing the roads out. So far, the airport and the road to the Tunis open, ” he says.
On Monday afternoon stated, however, the government to Tripoli airport of Mitiga has been closed after an air raid.
from trips to Libya, and then in 2014, calls swedes on the spot to leave the country.
In the moment, appreciate the MINISTRY that there are about 30 expats in Libya, most of them, however, in the vicinity of Benghazi in the east.
