Gen. Khalifa Hafter, the head of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) and a former CIA asset, is continuing his attempts to take over Libya militarily, with an eye toward seizing the capital city of Tripoli from the Government of National Accord (GNA).
With attention turning again to fighting in and around Tripoli, Hafter has announced that he is imposing a “no-fly zone” in Tripoli and the surrounding area, and is threatening to target civilian planes flying in that airspace.
The GNA reported that the recently attacked airport had just been reopened, and called on the UN to do something to ensure that civilian aviation is allowed to continue in the area.
The no-fly zone threat reflects a surprising level of confidence in Hafter’s camp, as threatening civilian aircraft would generally be a costly move diplomatically. His faction is heavily supported around the region, however, and Hafter likely believes that support runs deep enough that it could stand a shootdown or two.
Former CiA asset? Anytime it’s a one man show of taking over a country, you can bet he is still on the payroll.
No one is ever a “former” CIA asset, unless they’re dead like Osama bin Laden. Also, if he’s CIA he’s also Mossad. In 2014, Hafter said he would not mind “cooperating with Israel and receiving various forms of support from it.” He justified it by claiming that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” He has reportedly been recently supplied with Israeli military aid after secret meetings with Mossad agents, mediated by the United Arab Emirates. Maybe that includes the MANPADS he’s threatening to use on civilian planes. Don’t worry, stupid Pompeo will blame it all on Iran.
Sounds just like a typical US response.