Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim HAFTAR, the commander of the Tobruk-based Libyan National Army (LNA). Source of the photo: www.arabnews.com
On June 10, 2020, Turkey dismissed Egypt’s proposal for a cease-fire in Libya saying it’s a plan for saving Khalifa HAFTAR after the collapse of his offensive to control the capital Tripoli.
Egypt called for a cease-fire starting on June 8, as part of an initiative that also proposed an elected leadership council for Libya.
Turkey supports Fayez Al-SERRAJ’s internationally recognized Government (GNA), who have in recent weeks repelled a 14-month assault on Tripoli by HAFTAR’s LNA, backed by the UAE, Egypt, and Russia.
Mevlut CAVUSOGLU, Turkey’s foreign minister dismissed Cairo’s proposal saying it was a veiled attempt to save HAFTAR rather than a real ceasefire.
“The ceasefire effort in Cairo was stillborn. If a ceasefire is to be signed, it should be done at a platform that brings everyone together”. “The ceasefire call to save Haftar does not seem sincere or believable to us”, Mevlut CAVUSOGLU said.
ERDOGAN and the US counterpart, Donald TRUMP, also discussed Libya in a call on Monday.
ERDOGAN said the GNA would continue fighting to seize the coastal city of Sirte and the Al-Jufra airbase. ERDOGAN and TRUMP agreed to form a bilateral study group on Libya to discuss the crisis.
Hulusi AKAR the Turkish Defense Minister said that HAFTAR will “certainly disappear” if he continues to accrue losses on the battlefield.
“As the support behind him is withdrawn, lifted, HAFTAR will certainly disappear there,” he told the A Haber TV.
“The agreement between the GNA and LNA to re-enter UN security talks was a good first step, very positive,” Pompeo said in a news conference on Wednesday.
He added: “Quick and good-faith negotiations are now required to implement a ceasefire and relaunch the UN-led intra-Libyan political talks”.
This article was edited using the data from the Defence.pk, Arabnews.com, and Aljazeera.com
