Libya: Haftar calls on his forces to rally against Turkey
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Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar called on his forces on Saturday to rally against Turkey, which has helped his Tripoli-based rivals turn the tide of a military conflict around the capital. Recent advances by forces aligned with the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), including the seizure of a key air base, have thrown a year-long offensive on Tripoli by Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) into jeopardy.
They have also drawn a threat by the LNA, which is backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia, to carry out a massive air campaign in retaliation.
Haftar, in an audio message addressed to his forces, urged them to battle the “colonial” intervention by Turkey until its defeat, in a reference to one-time Ottoman control of Libya.
“You are creating glory while fighting the odious coloniser greedy for our wealth,” he said. “And you are waging war on all fronts, a war in which there is nothing but victory.”
Haftar’s comments were released as U.S. President Donald Trump appealed for a rapid de-escalation of the conflict in Libya in a call with Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said separately his country had “changed the balance” in Libya and averted a “full-blown civil war.” “The only solution in Libya is a political solution and Haftar needs to understand this,” he said in a TV interview.
The Libya Observer reports that the “Libyan Army forces have advanced on different frontlines, formerly held by Khalifa Haftar’s forces, in southern Tripoli, in a continuation of a large-scale offensive that started Friday by the forces under the command of the Government of National Accord (GNA). The spokesman for the Libyan Army Mohammed Gununu said Saturday that GNA forces had seized full control of Hamza, Yarmouk and Sawareekh (Missiles) military camps as well as other major frontlines in southern Tripoli such as Mashroa Al-Hadba and Khallat Al-Furjan as well as Al-Khallatat, which was also confirmed by the Volcano of Rage Operation.”
On Thursday, Turkey has reaffirmed that Khalifa Haftar’s elements will be legitimate target for its armed forces if they attack any of its interests in Libya. Turkish Foreign Ministry reiterated Thursday in a statement by the spokesman, Hami Aksoy, that Ankara reiterates once again that in case of targeting Turkish interests in Libya, this will have very heavy consequences and the putschist Haftar elements will be considered as a legitimate target. Aksoy’s statement came after Haftar’s forces said they would target Turkish forces and interests in all Libyan cities.
“It is noteworthy that the statement, which is referred by a foreign media outlet and said illegitimate militias loyal to Haftar will target Turkish interests with their air elements, is made after new warplanes are deployed in Libya’s east with foreign support.” Aksoy added.
The spokesman for Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said Haftar’s statement mirrored the defeat of his forces on the ground, saying it was “the clearest sign” that Haftar and his supporters were trying to escalate the conflict in Libya.
