No Result
View All Result
Monday, May 29, 2023
23 °c
Tripoli
21 ° Tue
21 ° Wed
21 ° Thu
22 ° Fri
  • 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
12
SHARES
53
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

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

Aldabaiba: Let us all leave the political scene, but through elections

UNSMIL concerned by landing refusal for medical evacuation air ambulance to Sebha

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.

 

Libya’s internationally recognized government claims to have ‘‘liberated all’’ of Tripoli from Hafter’s forces

 

UNSMIL welcomes return to talks by Libya’s warring parties

 

Internationally recognized Libyan government seeks to control ‘‘all’’ Libyan territory, will not negotiate with ‘‘obstacle’’ Hafter

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: Khalifa HafterLNA Libyan National ArmyTarhuna
Share5Tweet3Share1

Related Posts

State recognised militia and Libyan Army clash in central Tripoli
Libya

State recognised militia and Libyan Army clash in central Tripoli

May 29, 2023
FDCC destroys non-conforming shipments of medicines, calls on suppliers to respect Libyan health standards
Libya

FDCC destroys non-conforming shipments of medicines, calls on suppliers to respect Libyan health standards

May 29, 2023
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

Tripoli Libyan government conducts drone strikes against criminal hideouts in western coast

May 25, 2023
AmCham Libya Networking Breakfast
Libya

US Embassy in Tripoli announces easing of visa protocol: One-year multiple entry visas now replace three-month single-entry visas

May 24, 2023
Ten former antagonists, now presidential candidates, including Hafter, Bashagha and Maetig gather in Benghazi
Libya

Bashagha suspended by HoR as eastern-based prime minister

May 19, 2023
Acting Interior Minister Trabelsi taking steps to counter forged ID numbers and passports
Libya

Acting Interior Minister Trabelsi taking steps to counter forged ID numbers and passports

May 19, 2023
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

 

Advertise on LibyaHerald

Reach thousands of our site visitors daily

240 x 400px

Advertise Here
ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

  • GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU

    Tripoli Libyan government conducts drone strikes against criminal hideouts in western coast

    126 shares
    Share 50 Tweet 32
  • Libya loses US$ 5 bn annually due to illegal Tuna fishing within its territorial waters

    103 shares
    Share 42 Tweet 25
  • State recognised militia and Libyan Army clash in central Tripoli

    83 shares
    Share 33 Tweet 21
  • US Embassy in Tripoli announces easing of visa protocol: One-year multiple entry visas now replace three-month single-entry visas

    103 shares
    Share 56 Tweet 20
  • Libya and Austria discuss reopening airspace

    79 shares
    Share 35 Tweet 19
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

State recognised militia and Libyan Army clash in central Tripoli

FDCC destroys non-conforming shipments of medicines, calls on suppliers to respect Libyan health standards

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.

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

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Sign In with Facebook
    Sign In with Linked In
    OR

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Sign Up with Facebook
    Sign Up with Linked In
    OR

    Fill the forms bellow 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
    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
    Are you sure want to unlock this post?
    Unlock left : 0
    Are you sure want to cancel subscription?