TRIPOLI: The United Nations called for restraint on Friday following a decision by Libya’s Tripoli-based government to put its forces on high alert in response to potential attacks from fighters loyal to eastern-based strongman Khalifa Haftar.
Since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled dictator Muammar Qaddafi, Libya has been plagued by instability.
The country remains divided between the UN-recognized government in Tripoli and a rival administration led by Haftar, who controls the eastern cities of Benghazi and Tobruk.
Although a ceasefire was reached in 2020 after Haftar’s forces were repelled from Tripoli, tensions have resurfaced. The UN Support Mission in Libya has urged all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any provocative actions that could jeopardize the fragile stability of the country.
On Thursday, the Tripoli-based government announced it had put its forces on “high alert” and prepared to counter any potential assaults. Libyan media reports suggest that Haftar’s forces aim to capture the strategic oasis town of Ghadames on Libya’s western border, along with its airport. Analysts warn that such an operation could undermine the 2020 ceasefire.
Emad Badi, a Libya specialist at the Atlantic Council, noted that the mobilization of Haftar’s forces has caused significant concern in western Libya, with fears that it could signal an impending offensive on Tripoli. “Seizing Ghadames would signify the collapse of the 2020 ceasefire,” Badi said.
The Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF), led by Khalifa Haftar’s son Saddam Haftar, announced on Tuesday their intention to “secure the country’s southern borders and enhance stability in these key areas.”
The Tripoli-based High State Council (HSC) condemned the military build-up, claiming it is aimed at extending Haftar’s control and potentially leading to renewed armed conflict.
In a video posted on Friday, pro-Haftar forces did not specifically mention Ghadames but stated their goal of securing several remote oasis towns already under the eastern administration’s control.
