(Bloomberg) -- Forces loyal to the the internationally recognized government in Tripoli conducted air strikes to try to halt a march on the capital by strongman Khalifa Haftar’s troops, officials said.

Fighter jets struck positions near Tripoli held by Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army on Friday and Saturday, LNA media official Aguila Saber and local city official Hamed al Nuwaiser said by phone.

Haftar, a military leader whose stronghold is in the east of the country and whose forces swept through the south in January, ordered his troops on Wednesday to march on the capital. The move sharply escalated tensions in the North African OPEC state and drew rebukes from the United States and European countries.

Diplomats fear the assault could drag Libya into a bloody civil war. Its timing, as United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres was in the country to prepare for an April 14 political conference, shocked even Haftar’s foreign backers, who include France and the United Arab Emirates.

To contact the reporters on this story: Hatem Mohareb in Cairo at hmohareb@bloomberg.net;Saleh Sarrar in Dubai at ssarar@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Lin Noueihed at lnoueihed@bloomberg.net, John Viljoen, Charles Daly</s>WASHINGTON, April 8 — The United States is “deeply concerned” by fighting near Libya’s capital Tripoli and is seeking an “immediate halt” to an offensive by strongman Khalifa Haftar, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday.

“We have made clear that we oppose the military offensive by Khalifa Haftar’s forces and urge the immediate halt to these military operations against the Libyan capital,” he said in a statement.

Libya descended into chaos during the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi that has seen a bitter rivalry emerge between the Tripoli-based authorities and Haftar’s supporters in the east of the country.

Fighting raged south of Tripoli yesterday, three days after Haftar launched the offensive to seize the capital, now controlled by a UN-backed unity government and an array of militias.

But Pompeo stressed that there is “no military solution to the Libya conflict,” and urged all parties to “urgently de-escalate the situation.”

“This unilateral military campaign against Tripoli is endangering civilians and undermining prospects for a better future for all Libyans,” he said.

“The United States continues to press Libyan leaders, together with our international partners, to return to political negotiations mediated by UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ghassan Salame,” he added.

“A political solution is the only way to unify the country and provide a plan for security, stability, and prosperity for all Libyans.” — AFP</s>TRIPOLI/BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Eastern Libyan forces carried out air strikes on the southern part of Tripoli on Sunday and made progress toward the city center, residents said, escalating an operation to take the capital as the United Nations failed to achieve a truce.

The Libyan National Army (LNA) force of Khalifa Haftar, which backs a parallel administration in the east, last week launched an advance on Tripoli in the west, home to the internationally recognized government.

The offensive intensifies a power struggle that has fractured the oil and gas producer since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

The LNA reached the southern outskirts of the capital on Friday and says it took the former international airport, though the Tripoli military officials deny this.

At least one warplane carried out an air strike in the area, a resident said.

“The air force took part for the first time in the military operations,” said LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari. “It conducted a very successful operation to secure the airport road (to city center),” he added.

The LNA moved up north from on the road from former airport in the district of Khalat Furgan, coming some 11 km from the city center, a resident said, adding he could see the troops as forces loyal to the Tripoli government withdrew.

The U.N. mission to Libya (UNSMIL) called on Sunday for a truce for two hours in southern Tripoli to evacuate civilians and wounded, it said in a statement without giving details.

But the true was not observed by evening, one U.N. official said.

In another sign of the situation worsening on the ground, a contingent of U.S. forces supporting the U.S. Africa Command evacuated Libya for security reasons, a U.S. statement said. It gave no details.

A member of Libyan National Army (LNA), commanded by Khalifa Haftar, is seen as he heads out of Benghazi to reinforce the troops advancing to Tripoli, in Benghazi, Libya April 7, 2019. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori

Forces allied to the Tripoli government meanwhile announced their own operation called “Volcano of Anger” to defend the capital, a spokesman said, without giving details.

The offensive has taken the United Nations by surprise, undermining plans to find agreement on a road map for elections to resolve the protracted instability in Libya.

Lawless since Gaddafi was toppled by rebels backed by NATO air strikes, Libya has become the transit point hundreds of thousands of migrants trekking across the Sahara with the objective of reaching Europe across the Mediterranean Sea.

Haftar, 75, who casts himself as a foe of Islamist extremism but is viewed by opponents as a new dictator in the mould of Gaddafi, enjoys the backing of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, which see him as a bulwark against Islamists and have supported him militarily, according to U.N. reports.

The UAE, however, has joined Western countries in expressing its deep concern about the fighting.

“No justification for LNA move on Tripoli,” UK Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt tweeted, adding he was watching the situation very closely and would discuss the “next steps” with the European Union on Monday.

Slideshow (9 Images)

In the past, Haftar has struck deals with armed factions outside Tripoli to advance his forces. But gaining control of Tripoli - the ultimate prize for Haftar’s eastern parallel government - would be far more complicated.

Armed groups allied to the Tripoli government have moved more machinegun-mounted pickup trucks to defend Tripoli from Misrata down the coast. Misrata is known for a spirit of resisting “old regime” figures, developed during 2011 when pro-Gaddafi forces besieged it for three months.</s>CAIRO - The United Nations has issued an "urgent appeal" for a two-hour truce in the suburbs of Tripoli to evacuate civilians and those wounded, as forces loyal to military commander Gen. Khalifa Haftar continue a push aimed at taking the capital.



Libya's U.N.-backed prime minister, Fayez Sarraj, has called the action by Haftar an attempted coup. Haftar and his forces appear to have gained ground along the outskirts of the capital, but Sarraj said government troops are prepared to confront them.



UNSMIL, the U.N. mission in Libya, has urged all parties in the area to respect a two-hour humanitarian truce.



In anticipation of violence, the United States has pulled a contingent of troops out of Tripoli.



"The security realities on the ground in Libya are growing increasingly complex and unpredictable,'' said Marine Corps Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, head of U.S. Africa Command.



The U.S. has maintained a small number of troops in Libya to provide support for diplomatic missions, counterterrorism activities and improving regional security. Libyan PM Condemns Rival’s Move on Tripoli Libya’s U.N. backed prime minister, Fayez Sarraj, says his government’s troops are prepared to confront the forces loyal to eastern Libyan military commander Gen. Khalifa Haftar, which appear to have gained ground along the outskirts of the Libyan capital, Tripoli. Sarraj called the action by Haftar an attempted coup. Arab media broadcast video of Haftar’s forces entering the gates of Tripoli’s now-closed international airport, before taking positions outside terminal buildings and along the now-unused runways.

Arab media broadcast video of Haftar's forces entering the gates of Tripoli's now-closed international airport, before taking positions outside terminal buildings and along the now-unused runways. There did not appear to be any resistance to the takeover.

Arab media also showed residents of neighborhoods near the capital cheering as Haftar's forces entered. Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV said Haftar's forces had entered the Khalat al-Fargan district of the capital. VOA could not independently confirm the claim.

FILE - Libya's eastern-based commander Khalifa Haf FILE - Libya's eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar attends a security conference, in Benghazi, Libya, Oct. 14, 2017. FILE - Libya's eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar attends a security conference, in Benghazi, Libya, Oct. 14, 2017.

The tensions in the region have led the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) to relocate some of its forces from Libya. But AFRICOM, which provides military support to diplomatic missions and counterterrorism activities in Libya, says it remains committed to a secure and stable state, and will "assess the feasibility for renewed U.S. military presence, as appropriate."

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for an immediate halt to the advance by Haftar's forces and said all of the parties involved "have a responsibility to urgently de-escalate the situation."

Four towns controlled

Haftar's military spokesman, Col. Ahmad Almismari, told a press conference Saturday afternoon that forces under Haftar's command were gaining ground.

He said Haftar's forces were in control of the towns of Gharyan, Jendouba, Qasr al-Beshir and Suwani. He said 14 soldiers fighting with the Libyan army had been killed in fighting.

The spokesman said air force planes loyal to Haftar had launched at least four raids near the Bab al-Aziziya military compound south of the capital, but that there were no casualties. He said, however, that planes from the nearby town of Misrata, which opposes Haftar, had killed a number of civilians in a raid over the town of Ghariyan, which Haftar now controls.

As the fighting appeared to spread, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres insisted, during a visit to Jordan, that the U.N. "would never give up its support [for] the Libyan people."

U.N. special envoy Ghassan Salame, who is in Libya, said he was monitoring the situation closely.

He said tensions were increasing in a number of places in and around Tripoli and that he was keeping tabs on the situation. He said it was urgent that tension in those areas be ended and that civilians' safety be ensured.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi attends a FILE - Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. FILE - Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.

In Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi called on the international community to take action to restore stability to the Libyan capital. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri told visiting Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov that Libya has been out of control since the revolution that overthrew Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

Shoukri said the situation in Libya has been worrisome over the past few years with respect to the lack of stability and spread of terrorism, increasing the danger to the Libyan people.

Lavrov: Commence talks

Lavrov urged all parties to stop fighting and start negotiating and said the international community must prevent the situation from escalating. He urged Libya's warring parties to cease military operations and sit down at the negotiating table.

U.N. envoy Salame, for his part, insisted that "every effort would be made to hold the upcoming national dialogue conference" in the southern town of Ghadames, "unless the situation on the ground made it impossible to do so."</s>The attempted offensive by Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar on Tripoli has thrown into sharp relief the divisions between world powers over how to end the chaos that has riven Libya since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi.

Over the last years, competing factions and militias have sprouted up controlling different parts of Libya, leaving foreign powers to back or oppose a sometimes bewildering array of groups.

Haftar's controversial and surprise offensive on Tripoli, launched last week, has forced interested parties to lay their cards on the table about what they believe is the best way to restore order in the north African country.

Where do key regional powers in the Gulf, Turkey, neighbour Egypt as well as Russia and key EU players France and Italy stand?

On one side of the struggle is Haftar, the military commander and strongman of eastern Libya. And on the other Fayez al-Sarraj, who leads the United Nations-endorsed Government of National Accord, which has control of Tripoli.

The key allies of Khalifa are the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and increasingly Saudi Arabia while he is strongly opposed by their regional foe Qatar as well as Doha's chief supporter Turkey.

"The fighting in Libya has turned into a proxy war between Gulf rivals," according to James Dorsey, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

Neil Partrick, a Middle East specialist based in Britain, told AFP that Haftar has had the support of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates from the outset while recently Saudi Arabia began openly backing him as well.

Previously Riyadh had been "discretely backing" Haftar while publicly professing political support for the UN-backed government in Tripoli.

But the strongman was invited to visit Riyadh in March in a show of support, Partrick said.

On the other side of the fight, the UN-backed Sarraj government retains substantial support from Italy, which has close ties with and strong economic interests in its former colony.

"Historically, the Italians have always maintained very good relations with Tripoli," said Ali Bensaad, professor at the French Institute of Geopolitics, pointing to Italy's interests in Libyan energy reserves through its oil firm ENI.

In addition to Italy, Sarraj has backing from Turkey and Qatar, "but a Qatar that is currently weakened by its (diplomatic) isolation" due to the blockade from other Gulf nations, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to Bensaad.

The support of Rome, a colonial power in the early 20th century, also has a lot to do with its "priority (of) ending the flow of migrants" coming from Libya, said Arturo Varvelli, head of the North Africa Program at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies in Milan.

For its part, France has ostensibly played the role of mediator between Haftar and Sarraj, organising two meetings between the Libyan rival leaders, one in July 2017 and the other in May 2018.

But in reality the French position is less clear, and Paris -- which maintains close ties with Cairo, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi -- has been accused of favouring Haftar's side in the power struggle.

"France is no longer playing the role of mediator," said Bensaad. "Its strategic alliance with the Gulf countries is pushing it to mould its geopolitical strategies."

In July 2016, France announced the death of three soldiers in a helicopter accident in Libya, where they had been supporting Haftar's forces during an intelligence-gathering mission.

"The French position is ambiguous," said Varvelli, arguing Paris had from 2015 "endorsed Haftar to demonstrate French commitment to the fight against radical Islamists."

French involvement in Libya under President Emmanuel Macron has caused tensions in the past with Italy, which has historically been the lead European power in the country.

"France and Italy are on the same wavelength," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian claimed on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Russia has been seen as an enthusiastic supporter of Haftar, hosting meetings with him in Moscow.

But since his offensive, Moscow has in public at least distanced itself from the military strongman, with the Kremlin calling "on all sides to reject actions that could provoke bloodshed in battle and the deaths of civilians".

"If he (Haftar) wants to maintain an internal and international legitimacy, he cannot afford a bloodbath," said Varvelli.</s>He is the face of the eastern Libyan government. Recent military push by his forces to take control of Tripoli has thrust him onto the international stage once more.

But who exactly is Khalifa Haftar? Here is a brief profile of the man. Libya’s military strong man, Khalifa Haftar was born in 1943 in the country’s eastern city of Ajdabiya.

He studied at al-Huda School in Ajdabiya in 1957 and then moved to Derna to obtain his secondary education between 1961 and 1964.

Haftar joined Benghazi’s military academy in 1961. At the age of 26, he took part in the coup that brought Muammar Gaddafi to power in 1969.

And in 1980, Gaddafi promoted Haftar to the rank of a colonel and sent him to fight in Chad where he was captured by Chadians in 1987.

With the start of anti-Gaddafi uprisings in 2011, the field marshal returned to Libya where he became a key commander of the makeshift rebel force in the east.

The commander defected from the Libyan army upon his release. Backed by the CIA, he formed the military wing for the National Front for the Salvation of Libya to overthrow Gaddafi.

Khalifa Haftar later rose to power in February 2014 when he called on Libyans to topple the elected parliament and the General National Congress.

He survived an assassination attempt on June 4, 2014 then faded into obscurity until the launch of Operation Dignity.

Libya’s most potent warlord has been active in the country’s political scene for over forty years. He is currently playing a lead role in the second Libyan civil war</s>TRIPOLI - The army behind Libya’s UN-backed government has announced a counteroffensive to defend Tripoli, vowing to reclaim all areas seized by forces loyal to renegade General Khalifa Haftar, who have been marching on the outskirts of the capital.

Colonel Mohamed Gnounou told reporters in Tripoli on Sunday that the counteroffensive, dubbed “Volcano of Anger”, was aimed at “purging all Libyan cities of aggressor and illegitimate forces”.

The announcement came as Haftar’s forces said they conducted the first air raid on a Tripoli suburb as part of their aim oust the internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) and control Tripoli. The alleged strike came after GNA forces launched air raids on Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) around 50km south of Tripoli on Saturday, reportedly killing one person.

Meanwhile, the UN mission in Libya (UNSMIL) made an “urgent appeal” for a two-hour truce in the southern suburbs to evacuate the wounded and civilians caught in the fighting.

“[UNSMIL calls on] all armed parties in the Wadi Rabi area, Al-Kayekh, Gasr Ben Ghachir and Al-Aziziya to respect a humanitarian truce (between 14:00 and 16:00 GMT) to secure the evacuation of wounded and civilians by rescue teams and the Libyan Red Crescent”.

Fearing that large-scale fighting could break out, the city’s resident have begun stocking up on food and fuel. At least 35 people, including civilians, have been killed on both sides since Haftar launched his offensive four days ago.

The health ministry of the Tripoli-based government said in a statement that at least 21 people were killed, including a doctor, and 27 others were wounded. Ahmed al-Mesmari, spokesman for Haftar’s forces, said Saturday that 14 troops were killed.

The internationally recognised GNA controls Tripoli, situated in northwestern Libya, while the LNA is allied to a parallel administration based in the east of the oil-rich country, which splintered into a patchwork of competing power bases following the overthrow of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. On Sunday, the US military said it had temporarily pulled some of its forces out of Libya amid the upsurge of fighting in the North African country. “Due to increased unrest in Libya, a contingent of US forces supporting US Africa Command temporarily relocated from the country in response to security conditions on the ground,” it said in a statement. It did not detail how many military personnel had been withdrawn from Libya.

US Africa Command, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, said its mission in Libya involves “military support to diplomatic missions, counterterrorism activities, enhancing partnerships and improving security across the region”.

It said it would “continue to monitor conditions on the ground in Libya and assess the feasibility for renewed US military presence as appropriate”. “The security realities on the ground in Libya are growing increasingly complex and unpredictable,” said US Marine Corps General Thomas Waldhauser, commander of US Africa Command.

“Even with an adjustment of the force, we will continue to remain agile in support of existing US strategy.” On Saturday, the head of the GNA accused Haftar of “betraying” him after the latter launched his military offensive on Tripoli. In a televised speech, Fayez al-Sarraj said Haftar’s forces would meet firm resistance from forces loyal to the GNA.

“We have extended our hands towards peace but after the aggression that has taken place on the part of forces belonging to Haftar and his declaration of war against our cities and our capital ... he will find nothing but strength and firmness,” al-Sarraj said. He also warned of “a war without winners”.</s>The attempted offensive by Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar on Tripoli has thrown into sharp relief the divisions between world powers over how to end the chaos that has riven Libya since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi.

Over the last years, competing factions and militias have sprouted up controlling different parts of Libya, leaving foreign powers to back or oppose a sometimes bewildering array of groups.

Haftar's controversial and surprise offensive on Tripoli, launched last week, has forced interested parties to lay their cards on the table about what they believe is the best way to restore order in the north African country.

Where do key regional powers in the Gulf, Turkey, neighbour Egypt as well as Russia and key EU players France and Italy stand?

On one side of the struggle is Haftar, the military commander and strongman of eastern Libya. And on the other Fayez al-Sarraj, who leads the United Nations-endorsed Government of National Accord, which has control of Tripoli.

The key allies of Khalifa are the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and increasingly Saudi Arabia while he is strongly opposed by their regional foe Qatar as well as Doha's chief supporter Turkey.

"The fighting in Libya has turned into a proxy war between Gulf rivals," according to James Dorsey, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

Neil Partrick, a Middle East specialist based in Britain, told AFP that Haftar has had the support of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates from the outset while recently Saudi Arabia began openly backing him as well.

Previously Riyadh had been "discretely backing" Haftar while publicly professing political support for the UN-backed government in Tripoli.

But the strongman was invited to visit Riyadh in March in a show of support, Partrick said.

On the other side of the fight, the UN-backed Sarraj government retains substantial support from Italy, which has close ties with and strong economic interests in its former colony.

"Historically, the Italians have always maintained very good relations with Tripoli," said Ali Bensaad, professor at the French Institute of Geopolitics, pointing to Italy's interests in Libyan energy reserves through its oil firm ENI.

In addition to Italy, Sarraj has backing from Turkey and Qatar, "but a Qatar that is currently weakened by its (diplomatic) isolation" due to the blockade from other Gulf nations, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to Bensaad.

The support of Rome, a colonial power in the early 20th century, also has a lot to do with its "priority (of) ending the flow of migrants" coming from Libya, said Arturo Varvelli, head of the North Africa Program at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies in Milan.

For its part, France has ostensibly played the role of mediator between Haftar and Sarraj, organising two meetings between the Libyan rival leaders, one in July 2017 and the other in May 2018.

But in reality the French position is less clear, and Paris -- which maintains close ties with Cairo, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi -- has been accused of favouring Haftar's side in the power struggle.

"France is no longer playing the role of mediator," said Bensaad. "Its strategic alliance with the Gulf countries is pushing it to mould its geopolitical strategies."

In July 2016, France announced the death of three soldiers in a helicopter accident in Libya, where they had been supporting Haftar's forces during an intelligence-gathering mission.

"The French position is ambiguous," said Varvelli, arguing Paris had from 2015 "endorsed Haftar to demonstrate French commitment to the fight against radical Islamists."

French involvement in Libya under President Emmanuel Macron has caused tensions in the past with Italy, which has historically been the lead European power in the country.

"France and Italy are on the same wavelength," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian claimed on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Russia has been seen as an enthusiastic supporter of Haftar, hosting meetings with him in Moscow.

But since his offensive, Moscow has in public at least distanced itself from the military strongman, with the Kremlin calling "on all sides to reject actions that could provoke bloodshed in battle and the deaths of civilians".

"If he (Haftar) wants to maintain an internal and international legitimacy, he cannot afford a bloodbath," said Varvelli.</s>At least 32 people have been killed and around 50 wounded in fighting with strongman Khalifa Haftar’s troops near Tripoli, the UN-backed government said.

Health minister A’hmid Omar gave the updated death toll in an interview with Libya’s Al-Ahrar television station late Sunday. Haftar’s forces have so far said 14 of their fighters have died.

Fierce clashes raged on Sunday near Tripoli between pro-Haftar fighters and troops loyal to the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA).

The two sides also exchanged air strikes days after Haftar — who backs an administration in eastern Libya opposed to the GNA — launched an offensive Thursday to seize the capital.

The clashes came despite calls by the United Nations and the United States for an urgent ceasefire.

Pro-GNA forces on Sunday announced a counteroffensive named “Volcano of Anger”.

Spokesman Colonel Mohamed Gnounou said the operation was aimed at “purging all Libyan cities of aggressor and illegitimate forces”, in reference to Haftar’s fighters.

Libya has been riven by divisions since the NATO-backed uprising in 2011 that killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with rival administrations and armed groups vying for power and control of the country’s oil.

Haftar’s offensive has threatened to plunge the country into a full-blown civil war and once again thwart diplomatic efforts to find a solution to Libya’s woes.
Libyan Air Force jets loyal to Khalifa Haftar strike GNA positions in Tripoli for first time since the offensive began, including four airstrikes near the Bab al-Azizia military barracks.