No Result
View All Result
Friday, October 31, 2025
23 °c
Tripoli
24 ° Sat
24 ° Sun
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Libya

Hafter’s forces retreat, giving up Tarhuna – their last stronghold in western Libya

bySami Zaptia
June 5, 2020
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A

By Sami Zaptia.

London, 5 June 2020:

The Khalifa Hafter led Libyan National Army (LNA) and their aligned forces gave up attempting to defend their last western Libya stronghold, Tarhuna, yesterday, as the forces defending Tripoli strolled unresisted into the city. Pro Tripoli forces say Hafter’s forces escaped to Jufra airbase

Hafter’s loss brings to an end his calamitous 14-month attempt to control western Libya and take over the capital Tripoli. Hafter’s forces have claimed they have retreated and retrenched further east at the Jufra airbase.

It is not clear if they had a choice and nor is it clear if the forces aligned with the internationally recognized government in Tripoli will stop at Tarhuna or seek to push on eastwards towards Jufra, the eastern oilfields – and even beyond to eastern Libya proper.

RELATED POSTS

Atletico Madrid win Benghazi’s Reconstruction Cup after beating Inter Milan 4-3 on penalties – great political showpiece for Hafter

Lack of accountability and impunity for Tarhuna human rights violations risk fuelling more instability and further division in Libya

The collapse of Hafter’s military campaign came quickly and coincided with the increase of Turkish intervention and air support for Tripoli. Since April, Hafter has lost the western coastal towns of Surman and Sabrata, then the strategic Witya airbase, followed by all of Greater Tripoli and the disused Tripoli International Airport early this week – and finally Tarhuna yesterday.

On the face of it, the international community is pushing hard for peace talks to resume based on the Berlin conference outcomes, UN Security Resolutions and the Skhirat Libyan Political Agreement. Hafter’s side had announced their readiness to return to dialogue, but although Tripoli is making the right noises that it is also ready to resume talks – but it is making preconditions. Tripoli says it will no longer talk to Hafter as they do not view him as a serious partner for peace.

There is a fear that either side could be playing for time. Tripoli is scenting victory and feeling emboldened by its recent victories and could go all out for a comprehensive defeat of Hafter by moving eastwards. There is a fear by western diplomats that Tripoli’s militias could adopt a hawkish posture forcing Faiez Serraj into more fighting and waste a window of opportunity for peace talks – while Hafter is on the retreat.

Equally, Hafter could also be playing for time in order to retrench and regroup eastwards in Jufra for a counter-offensive. If Tripoli’s forces refuse to return to peace talks and Hafter has time to recover – he could make some military gains and strengthen his hand at negotiations. However, analysts feel that with Turkish intervention on Tripoli’s side, Hafter is very unlikely to regain his military zenith and threaten Tripoli again.

Much will depend on the respective foreign backers of the two contending Libyan sides and the geo-global deals made by them. How much do the two blocs of foreign backers want a Libya victory – may determine what happens next.

Either way, pushing Hafter’s forces as far east as Jufra will mean that Tripoli will at long last enjoy some calm and peace – which it has not seen since 4 April 2019.

From Hafter’s perspective, his military defeats may raise questions about his leadership and his whole raison d’être in his base in eastern Libya. Easterners may want to ask why their sons died fighting a lost campaign for Tripoli.

 

https://www.libyaherald.com/2020/06/04/libyas-internationally-recognized-government-claims-to-have-liberated-all-of-tripoli-from-hafters-forces/

 

https://www.libyaherald.com/2020/06/02/unsmil-welcomes-return-to-talks-by-libyas-warring-parties/

 

https://www.libyaherald.com/2020/06/01/internationally-recognized-libyan-government-seeks-to-control-all-libyan-territory-will-not-negotiate-with-obstacle-hafter/

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: Khalifa HafterLNA Libyan National ArmyTarhuna

Related Posts

LTT and GIA sign cooperation agreement on electronic connectivity
Libya

General Information Authority makes its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (2025-2030) publicly available

October 30, 2025
UNSMIL: Warring parties invited to begin negotiations on 29 September
Libya

Military and security bodies across Libya agree on location for Joint Border Security Centre – scheduled to become operational in weeks

October 30, 2025
Nearly 11,000 migrants repatriated from Libya and 3,165 Mediterranean fatalities: IOM
Libya

22,509 migrants intercepted at sea and returned to Libya so far in 2025 – already more than the 21,762 intercepted for all of 2024

October 30, 2025
‘‘Misrata Movement Against Settlement and Illegal Immigration’’ calls for cancellation of 2017 Libyan Italian agreement signed by Serraj government
Libya

‘‘Misrata Movement Against Settlement and Illegal Immigration’’ calls for cancellation of 2017 Libyan Italian agreement signed by Serraj government

October 27, 2025
Tripoli Defence Minister Namroush takes steps to secure Tripoli after Bashagha alleged assassination attempt
Libya

Tripoli government opens investigation to determine responsibilities and accountability for Misrata clashes between its own forces

October 26, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

Al-Hany frigate returns from Malta after undergoing maintenance and technical overhaul there since 2013

October 24, 2025
Next Post

55 new Coronavirus cases bring Libya’s total to 239

Cairo Libya peace initiative seen as attempt to keep Hafter and Saleh relevant – so far ignored by Tripoli

Cairo Libya peace initiative seen as attempt to keep Hafter and Saleh relevant – so far ignored by Tripoli

libyaherald-Ads

Top Stories

  • New Libyan artificial intelligence system ‘‘LIBIGPT’’ to be launched soon

    Libya’s first AI system, LIBIGPT, launched in presence of Minister of Economy and Trade

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Libyan Development & Reconstruction Fund signs contracts for new Tobruk projects with Slovenian, French, Turkish, Italian, and Egyptian companies

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Tripoli government opens investigation to determine responsibilities and accountability for Misrata clashes between its own forces

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Sirte Gulf International Airport opened

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Chinese Chargé d’affaires to begin work at embassy in Tripoli mid-November – opening direct cargo flights, holding Libyan Chinese Economic Forum before year end discussed

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

Bosnia Herzegovina economic delegation meets several Libyan entities

E-commerce taxation in Libya conference makes several recommendations

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms below to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.