Libyan media reported that the armed forces of the internationally recognized Tripoli government United nations The alert level has been raised in the southwest of the country in preparation for a “possible attack” by forces led by retired Major General Khalifa Haftar.
Libya Al-Ahrar TV reported on Thursday that Deputy Chief of Staff Salah al-Din al-Namroush gave instructions to army units to be on alert and ready to repel any possible attack.
The same channel reported yesterday, Wednesday, that forces affiliated with Haftar “are heading towards southwestern Libya” on the borders with Tunisia and Algeria, in an area controlled by the Tripoli authorities, without providing further details.
The forces led by him announced Haftar clashThe son of the retired general announced on Tuesday a “military operation” that officially aims to “secure the country's southern borders and enhance national security and stability in these strategic areas” and “deploy patrols” to monitor the border strip with neighboring countries.
Haftar's forces said in a statement on Facebook that the units, which are placed “under the direct supervision” of Saddam Haftar, are heading “towards cities and regions in southwestern Libya.”
“Force majeure”
Libya's state oil company declared a “force majeure” on Wednesday in the Sharara oil field (southwest), the country's largest producing field.
The announcement came in an official statement by the Libyan National Oil Corporation (a government-owned company that runs the entire sector), less than 5 days after the closure of the Sharara oil field by protesters.
Media reports attributed the closure of the field last Saturday to the “Fezzan Movement”, a civil movement that demands what it considers the rights of citizens in southern Libya. It has repeatedly threatened to close the field, which is located within its geographical scope, and the Libyan National Oil Corporation confirmed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Libya has been suffering from divisions since the fall of the late regime. Muammar Gaddafi 2011. Its affairs are run by two governments: the first is internationally recognized in Tripoli (west), headed by Abdul Hamid DbeibahThe second is in the east of the country and has the support of the House of Representatives and retired Major General Khalifa Haftar.
Haftar, with military support from his allies, launched a large-scale offensive to seize Tripoli from April 2019 to June 2020. He was stopped on the outskirts of the city by GNA forces, before his forces withdrew completely to Jufra and Sirte in central Libya.
