Khalifa Haftar

For Libya’s Haftar, flood aftermath tests strongman image

(Reuters) - After Derna's catastrophic floods, eastern Libyan military leader Khalifa Haftar flew in by helicopter and received salutes from his troops as he toured the city where thousands of…

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Libya’s Haftar backs creation of new government in challenge to Tripoli

BENGHAZI, Libya, June 17 (Reuters) - Libya's eastern forces under commander Khalifa Haftar support a proposal to set up a new interim government, they said late on Friday, setting up…

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UPDATED: Italian Prime Minister Meloni in talks with Libyan warlord Haftar

Premier Giorgia Meloni and eastern Libyan strongman General Khalifa Haftar discussed the recent unprecedented upsurge in migrant flows to Italy in their two-hour talks in Rome Thursday, sources said as…

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Photo Story: Libyan warlord Haftar visits Abu Dhabi defence fair

Commander of the Libyan National Army, Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar (C), tours the 16th edition of International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) and the 7th edition of the Naval…

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Libyan warlord Haftar may transfer his powers to his son

A report by the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta has shed light on the Moscow- Libyan relations after the "Khalifa Haftar era," citing that the rogue military commander is considering transferring…

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Killing of Libyan dissident underscores stakes in peace talks

Gunmen shot dead a prominent dissident in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Tuesday as political talks in neighbouring Tunisia focused on a roadmap towards elections in Libya. Hanan…

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Oil production in Eastern Libya to resume as Haftar announces lifting of blockade

Eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar said in a broadcast on Friday that his forces had decided to resume oil production after having blockaded export facilities since January, without giving further…

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Libya and US investigating gold-for-cash trades between Venezuela and Haftar

An investigation is under way by Libyan and US authorities into suspected gold-for-cash trades between Venezuela and Libyan eastern commander Khalifa Haftar. Libyan and European security officials told the WSJ that Haftar's…

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Egypt proposes new Libyan ceasefire as Haftar forces continue retreat

Libya's internationally recognised government attempted new advances on Saturday against the forces of retreating eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, who stood by in Cairo as his ally, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah…

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Russia denies U.S. claim that Libyan banknotes seized in Malta are counterfeit

Libyan currency worth over $1 billion which was printed in Moscow and seized by Malta is not counterfeit, Russia's foreign ministry said on Saturday in response to U.S. claims. The…

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Russian fighters flown out of western Libya after Haftar retreat

Russian fighters in Libya were flow out a town south of Tripoli by their Libyan allies after retreating from frontlines at the capital, the town's mayor said. The reported departure…

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Haftar forces to perform tactical withdrawal in southern Tripoli

Spokesperson of warlord Haftar, Ahmed Al-Mismari, said that their forces will perform “a tactical withdrawal” from some frontlines in southern Tripoli, just hours after losing the strategic Watiya airbase to…

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Libya’s government accuses rival Haftar of a coup d’etat

Libya's UN-recognised government accused rival military commander Khalifa Haftar of seeking to stage a new coup after he claimed to have a "mandate" from the people to govern the country.…

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Al-Sarraj says human rights violations in Libya are deteriorating humanitarian conditions

The Head of the Presidential Council Fayez Al-Sarraj said the human rights violations in Libya are leading to deteriorating of humanitarian conditions, displaying at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)…

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Libya’s PM aware of financial crisis in view of oil output drop

Libya will face a financial crisis and a budget deficit in 2020 because of a blockade of oil terminals and oil fields by groups loyal to eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar,…

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Willingness to negotiate peace in Libya as UN-led talks are held in Geneva

The U.N. envoy to Libya said on Tuesday there was a "genuine will to start negotiating" between rival military factions as they planned to meet for the first time for…

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Lack of trust between warring parties clouds Libya’s future after Berlin

Chairman of the Presidential Council (PC) Fayez al-Sarraj expressed Sunday his doubts that Khalifa Haftar has any intentions to reach any agreements in the future. "Our long experience in dealing with Haftar reinforces…

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Libya conference in Berlin – Update

The summit on the conflict in Libya has ended with an agreement to more strictly enforce the UN arms embargo. Host Angela Merkel said a "new spirit" had been created…

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Chances of Libyan breakthrough in Berlin in doubt, Erdogan threatens to “teach a lesson” to Haftar

Turkish threats to “teach a lesson” to Libyan strongman Gen. Khalifa Haftar following a breakdown in Tuesday’s cease-fire talks in Moscow has cast serious doubt over the chances of a…

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Germany say Haftar willing to adopt cease-fire, Libyan warlord travels to Greece

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Libya's General Khalifa Haftar has agreed in principle to a cease-fire in the country. Maas flew to Benghazi at short notice on Thursday for…

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Italian attempt to bring Libya’s leaders together fails

Bloomberg reports that an Italian attempt to broker an unscheduled meeting between Libya’s two warring leaders collapsed, when United Nations-backed Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj canceled a planned trip to…

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Libyan Commander Haftar orders forces to advance on Tripoli in ‘final battle’

Libyan Commander Khalifa Haftar urged his forces to advance towards the centre of Tripoli on Thursday evening in what he said would be the “final battle” for the capital.…

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US calls on Haftar to stop Tripoli offensive amidst fears of Russia’s interference in the region

The United States on Friday called on eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar to stop his offensive on the capital held by the internationally recognised government and warned against Russian interference.…

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Haftar ready for ‘dialogue’

Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar whose forces have been battling to capture the seat of the UN-recognized government in Tripoli since April, said he was open to "dialogue”. "When all is…

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Fatal drone strike in Tarhuna, Libya

Three members of Libya’s eastern force, including two commanders, were killed late on Friday in a drone strike on Tarhuna city by the internationally recognised government of national accord (GNA),…

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Renewed fighting in southern Tripoli

At least three fighters aligned with Libya’s U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) were killed in an offensive on Saturday aimed at pushing back eastern forces led by commander Khalifa…

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Heavy clashes in southern Tripoli as Libyan Army advances

There are reports of heavy fighting in the Sabea area in the south of Libyan capital Tripoli, as Libyan forces advanced against fighter loyal to Khalifa Haftar. Forces loyal to…

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Air war in Libya intensifies – Risk of Civilian casualties increase

An air war in Libya is intensifying as rival forces in the divided country try to break a military stalemate, heightening significantly the risk of civilian casualties. At least 45…

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Haftar insists “sale of oil is an exclusive” jurisdiction of the Tripoli NOC

In written comments to Bloomberg, Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar said he has not interest in controlling Libya’s oil industry. Bloomberg reported that Haftar said the state oil company in Tripoli…

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Forces loyal to Haftar threatens new air strikes on Tripoli

Forces loyal to 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. Urging residents to stay away…

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Reports of a Turkish drone shot down over Libya

Amid rising tension between Turkey and Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar, his fighters are claiming to have shot down a Turkish drone that entered Libyan airspace. A Turkish drone has been…

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Erdogan threatens Haftar that Turkey ready to take necessary action over detained Turks in Libya

Turkey warned that forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar would become a “legitimate target” if a group of Turkish citizens that were detained over the weekend were not released immediately.…

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Haftar threatens to arrest Turkish citizens in Libya

The Libya Observer reports that a spokesperson of Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar, Ahmed Al-Mismari, threatened to arrest Turkish citizens and attack Turkish companies and interests in Libya. In the same…

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Tripoli Government appeals for US help

Libya’s internationally recognised government has called on the United States to halt the military offensive on Tripoli that is being led by rebel forces in the East. Prime Minister Fayez…

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Italy steps up efforts to mediate in Libya

Premier Giuseppe Conte on Tuesday held talks in Rome with the head of the UN-backed Libyan government, Fayez al-Sarraj. Premier Giuseppe Conte said he hoped to soon meet eastern Libyan…

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UPDATED: House-to-house fighting around Tripoli

Reuters reported that an armed group tried to attack Libya's El Sharara oilfield, the country's biggest, but there was no impact on production, a field engineer said on Monday. The…

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Tripoli’s Government asks Cyprus not to issue passports for Haftar’s sons

Fathi Bashagha, the Interior Minister of Libya’s internationally recognised government in Tripoli has asked his counterpart in Cyprus not to issue passports for four sons of Khalifa Haftar, after news…

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Haftar’s forces retreat from Aziziya

Reuters reports that forces supporting Libya's internationally recognised government in Tripoli pushed back troops loyal to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar to more than 60 km south-west of the capital Tripoli.…

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LNA trying to open new fronts around Tripoli

As the death toll in the fighting in Libya reached 254, the forces under the command of Khalifa Haftar, the Libyan National Army (LNA), announced that they were calling in…

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Germany calls for UN Security Council meeting on Libya

Germany on called for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the escalating conflict in Libya after the 15-member body failed to agree on a draft resolution…

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Salvini insists terrorist presence on migrants boats from Libya now a certainty

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said the chaos in Libya following Khalifa Haftar's offensive has increased the risk of terrorist presence on migrant boats headed for Italy, said, adding…

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Night shelling on Tripoli leaves more victims

Late night shelling in Libya's capital Tripoli killed two people and wounded eight. Late on Tuesday, residents had reported heavy shelling resonating in several parts of the city, which eastern…

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Italy on the alert for foreign fighters escaping from Libya

The Italian Interior Ministry issued a directive aimed at dealing with terrorists possibly escaping and arriving from war torn Libya. The Ministry warned that hundreds of Islamic terrorists could arrive…

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Libyan PM Sarraj warns that 800,000 migrants are set to try reach Europe

Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera warned that 800,000 migrants and Libyans could 'invade' Italy from conflict-torn Libya. Among them, he said,…

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Egyptian President Sisi meets Libyan commander Haftar in Cairo

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday met in Cairo with Khalifa Haftar, the commander of eastern-based Libyan forces, the Libyan National Army (LNA), who are currently advancing on the…

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Death toll rises in fighting around Libyan capital

At least 32 people have been killed and around 50 wounded in fighting around Libyan capital Tripoli after an offensive to take the city by the Libyan National Army (LNA),…

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Militias in western Libya vow to stop Haftar’s forces as they advance to al-Aziziya

Militias in western Libya vowed Friday to confront and stop the attempt by Khalifa Haftar’s forces to seize control of the capital, Tripoli, raising fears of renewed civil war in…

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Libya’s Presidential Council declares military alert in view of imminent suspicions offensive against Tripoli

Libya’s Presidential Council declared a military alert Wednesday after forces loyal to commander Khalifa Haftar were deployed to western parts of the country, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the chairman…

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Fighting breaks out in Tripoli

Between Saturday and Sunday, western Tripoli areas saw heavy fighting between National Mobile Force and an armed group of the general security apparatus. The Libya Observer reported that eyewitnesses said…

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Tripoli in the crosshairs. Fear of an offensive on Libyan capital

Forces from eastern Libya under the command of Khalifa Haftar have signalled that an offensive against the Libyan capital Tripoli might be imminent. Forces from eastern Libya who have…

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Two Italian fishing boats seized by Haftar’s forces close to Derna in Libya

The naval forces in eastern Libya under the command of the leader of the self-styled army Khalifa Haftar said they had seized two Italian fishing boats with 13 crewmen on…

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Al-Mismari : Libya needs a Russian intervention like in Syria to get rid of foreign players in the country

According to the Libya Observer, the Spokesperson of Khalifa Haftar’s self-styled army, Ahmed Al-Mismari, has requested a Russian intervention in Libya similar to the one in Syria "to get rid…

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Libyan political rivals agree to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on December 10

Rival Libyan factions agreed on Tuesday on a declaration that would create a political framework to pave the way for U.N.-backed elections presidential and parliamentary elections on December 10, in…

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Paris international conference on Libya scheduled for today

On Tuesday the French President Emmanuel Macron will host the four main rivals of Libya including Al-Mishri, the Head of the Presidential Council Fayez Al-Sirraj, the Speaker of the House of Representatives…

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Land and air military operations in Derna, Libya

Forces loyal to Libyan military leader Khalifa Haftar have launched fresh land and air operations against besieged Derna, one of the last eastern cities still outside of his control whose…

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Libya: General Khalifa Haftar returns to Benghazi

Khalifa Haftar, a veteran general and the most powerful figure in eastern Libya, has returned to the eastern city of Benghazi following an extended absence, including reported treatment in a hospital…

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