The fighting in the outskirts of the Libyan capital of Tripoli, fueling the fear that the oil-rich North African country could sink into a new civil war. In the heart of the new confrontation General Khalifa Haftar, who leads ostlibysche troops in the fight against the West Libyan government. Haftar is a colorful personality – he is a former officer of the 2011 ousted dictator Muammar al Gaddafi. In the American exile Haftar took up the US citizenship, apparently worked closely with the CIA and presenting itself as a liberator of the country.
it is said to Haftar alone in the fight against extremists. While his Libyan National army (LNA) delivered, on the outskirts of Tripoli first battles with the militias of the internationally recognized government, called Haftar with the Russian Deputy foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov. In the interview, Haftar stressed, according to Moscow’s determination “to fight terrorists in Libya”.
Russia is one of the supporters of LNA, such as Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. The influence of these international forces Haftar, however, is limited – the General pursued his own goals.
Video 07.04.2019, 15:29 Uhr00:43 Min.The conflict in Libya escalated
In the course of his long career, Haftar has learned to cooperate with many different partners. In 1969, he was one of the officers who supported Gaddafi’s coup against the then king Idris. His career ended abruptly when Gaddafi sent him as chief of Libyan troops in 1986 to Chad. There Haftar by the troops of Chad with French support, was defeated and went into captivity. Gaddafi distanced itself from his field to the Lord, and Haftar is the enemy.
In the USA fled
With the help of the USA, Haftar was able to escape from the Chad and in the US state of Virginia, where he lived near the CIA Headquarters in Langley. From there, Haftar took part in Trying to overthrow Gaddafi. His new role in Libya even started in the year 2014, as he declared Would be the “Operation”, the Islamist militias from the ostlibyschen city of Benghazi were distributed. A year later, he was appointed by the Libyan Parliament to the head of the LNA.
In the confusion following the removal and murder of Gaddafi in 2011, two rival governments in the country have emerged: the UN-recognised leadership in Tripoli and a Parallel government in the East of the country. The successful campaign against the Islamist extremists in Benghazi, strengthened Haftars Power in the East of Libya, but in the Western part of the state, he remained because of his past as Gaddafi loyalists-many of his country suspicious of people.
The distrust is mutual: Haftar is an enemy of the militias from the city of Misrata, on the part of the government in Tripoli and Islamists in their ranks. At the same time, Haftar is regarded as an opponent of Turkey and the Emirate of Qatar, which is believed to have the support of the Misrata fighters.
The best cards for UN talks
In recent months, Haftar continued his Position with the taking of important oil Fields in the South of Libya, in a systematic way. In doing so, he provided another example of how quickly alliances and enmities can change in Libya: According to the observation of some Libya experts Haftars LNA has supported in the conquests in the South, among other things, of France, is formally on the side of the government in Tripoli.
That Haftar wants to usher in with the announcement of the battle of Tripoli, a bloody new Phase in the conflict, has shocked the international community. The United Nations, the United States and other actors are calling for negotiations between the parties to the conflict. Whether Haftar with the Offensive attack after coming to Power over the whole of Libya, is open. The General must be clear that his troops can take the capital only in losing battles.
Therefore, some observers suspect that Haftars aims Offensive at a conference that the UN is planning for mid-April: The world organization wants to move the two rival government to the formation of a joint leadership and free elections to agree. Haftar wants to ensure according to this reading, that he talks in the UN the best cards in the Hand.
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