Eastern forces in Libya seize town south of Tripoli, UN chief voices deep concern

Forces of the so-called Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Libya’s strongman Khalifa Haftar, say they have managed to seize full control of a town south of the capital Tripoli in their westward advancement.

The development brings their conflict with the North African nation’s internationally recognized government in the capital to a potentially dangerous new phase.

“We fully control Gharyan and right now as we speak I’m driving through the town,” Abdelsalam al-Hassi, commander of the operation to secure western Libya, said on Thursday. The town is located about 100 kilometers south of Tripoli.

Libya has been the scene of increasing violence since 2011, when former dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled from power after an uprising and a NATO military intervention.

His ouster created a huge power vacuum, leading to chaos and the emergence of numerous militant outfits, including the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group.

Libya is now divided between two rival governments —the House of Representatives, based in the eastern city of Tobruk, and the internationally-recognized government of Fayez al-Sarraj, or the Tripoli-based unity Government of National Accord (GNA). Haftar is presumably loyal to the one in the east.

Gharyan had been allied to the GNA although some Haftar supporters were also based there. The two sides reportedly entered into brief clashes but according to the town’s mayor earlier on Thursday the clashes had ceased.

“The town now is under control of the army who came from the east and I can see their vehicles with their Libyan National Army logo,” a town resident told Reuters.

A video posted online showed LNA vehicles, including pickups mounted with heavy machineguns, marching through Gharyan.

PressTV-Tension in Libya: Haftar forces heading to Tripoli

Forces loyal to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar start moving to the country’s west, where Libya’s internationally-recognized government is seated.

On Wednesday, the LNA claimed in a statement that the advance on the country’s west was meant to root out what it called “terrorist groups” in the restive region.

The LNA office also published a video showing a convoy of armored vehicles and pickup trucks with heavy guns mounted on them on a road, which appeared to be on the coastline along the eastern city of Benghazi.

The GNA quickly responded by declaring a “general alert” to all Libyan army and security forces.

The Tripoli government denounced the move as an “escalation” and called on Haftar’s forces to “stop using the language of threats.”

In January, the LNA started a military campaign to take control of Libya’s south and its oilfields.

Haftar’s advance order came less than a month after he met with Sarraj in the United Arab Emirates, where they agreed on ending military operations, peacefully ending transitional phases, and going to elections.

Additionally on Thursday, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed his deep concern over the risk of possible confrontation in the North African country after forces loyal to Haftar announced they were preparing to advance on Tripoli.

“I am deeply concerned by the military movement taking place in Libya and the risk of confrontation,” the visiting Guterres tweeted from Tripoli, adding that there is no military solution.

“Only intra-Libyan dialogue can solve Libyan problems. I call for calm and restraint as I prepare to meet the Libyan leaders in the country,” he further said.

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