17 July 2019

Haftar’s forces announce a final offensive over Tripoli and six countries call for the end of hostilities in Libya

The governments of the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the United States have released a joint statement calling Libyan contenders to find a political solution to the conflict days after General Khaifa Haftar’s forces announced the “launch of the latest operations to liberate Tripoli” in a message on Facebook. The communication of the imminent final offensive also affirmed that several air strikes had already been carried out in the city of Gharyan, which was retaken by the UN-backed Government of National Accord in late June. Some sources affirmed that the so-called Libyan National Army was preparing to enter Al Karama Martyrs Square, in the centre of Tripoli. In their joint statement, the six above mentioned countries underlined that “there can be no military solution in Libya”. They urged the conflict parties to return to the UN-led political process and warned about terrorist groups’ attempts to exploit the security vacuum in the country.

circle graphic