Launched in April, Khalifa Hafter’s bid to take over Libya, and the capital of Tripoli, looks to be breaking out again, with his forces attacking fighters from the UN-backed unity government over the past couple of days.
The Hafter forces opened fire on the unity force fighters in southern Tripoli, and heavy fighting is reported in parts of the city. The unity government’s office is claiming to have retaken parts of the city lost in the early push.
Details are scant, but the unity government is accusing the UAE of having gotten involved, saying that they captured and destroyed a UAE-provided armored vehicle from Hafter forces.
The UAE is one of several nations that is seen as backing Hafter’s takeover of Libya, with many believing that the takeover by a military dictator would stabilize the country. This faction is led by Egypt’s military junta, which seems to want to replicate its own coup there.
Rather oversimplified. Whatever neocons hate — we hate too. We hate Hafter, hate MBS, hate Al-Sisi. On cue. This is not black-and-white situation. Why did US go through the trouble of shipping in UN Government— just for Trump to make it look like he does not care who wins. Hafter is nust as good. But before that, He was good when we shipped him in to help topple Ghadafi, and then he was suddenly no good — tossed away as an old fuddy-duddy who served his purpose. But then, he meets Russians on a ship in the Mediterranean. Then gets help from Egypt that grew tired of cross border Islamist attack on Christians in Egypt. Egypt bombs them few times. But it was a whole lots more productive to help Heftar take over Benghazi and beat militants. No thanks from us. Then he goes and cuts deals with South Libya, and to the Tripoli door.
Who has a chance of uniting Libya? Bringing peace? Who cares, we have our narrative.