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 swept through the south and taken control of remaining oilfields in recent weeks have now reinforced a base in the center of the country and signaled to the capital Tripoli that it may be next.

This offensive has stunned the United Nations who is now scrambling to mediate between Haftar and Tripoli’s internationally-recognized government led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj.

Haftar has not said whether he wants to march on Tripoli, which would dramatically escalate tensions. But his Libyan National Army (LNA) has hinted heavily that it might do so , if Haftar is not recognized as the country’s overall military commander, his aim since he began assembling the force in 2014.

Via Reuters