American support for Hafer reveals the positions of states in Libya

The late White House announcement of President Donald Trump's contact with retired Libyan Major General Khalifa Hafer, whose forces have launched an offensive to control Tripoli, outlines the international game in which Washington and Moscow are in a row, risking the marginalization of the United Nations in Libya.

While Britain was presenting a ceasefire resolution criticizing the attack on the capital, President Trump on the same day spoke of a "common vision" for a democratic future for Libya, the White House said.

This is clear support for Hafer at the expense of the internationally recognized head of government Fayez Sarraj, despite the recognition of the international community by a single legitimate authority in Libya, he applauded "the important role of Mashaer Hafter in the fight against terrorism and ensure the security of oil resources in Libya," according to the White House statement.

Experts believe Trump's tribute to Huffter is proof of US support, explaining Hafer's determination to continue his attack on Tripoli.

A US diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said US support allowed him to understand why Hafer's logic of "going to the end" was better. Other diplomats pointed out that despite military difficulties and the slide of the front, Hafer continues to assert that he can "win" 15 days after the start of his campaign.

Another diplomat said the support Washington expressed on Friday was "clarifying things" at the United Nations as well, as Britain tried for five days in vain to reach a resolution calling for a ceasefire and unconditional entry of humanitarian aid into the fighting zones.

In a strange position during the consultations, Russia and the United States stood in a row demanding "some time", or asserting that they were "not ready for a resolution, without explaining why to their partners."

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's special representative in Libya, Ghassan Salama, has been issuing warnings of a widening conflict and is calling for an urgent response.

A setback to the efforts of the United Nations
The three African members of the UN Security Council (South Africa, Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea) on Wednesday added their voices to US and Russian reservations by blocking the negotiating process.

An expert on the file said it had made "meaningless" requests, stressing that it could not be hindered by the "remote guidance" of major powers or by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, "very pro-Hafer" and close to Trump.

Egypt is currently the current chair of the African Union, which is imposing its views on African countries that are members of the Security Council in most cases.

In the balance of power between Hafter and Al-Siraj, Hafer has been supported by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and the United States in public since Friday, while the head of the Wifaq government is recognized by the international community.

Diplomats said Huffer would not have launched his attack without a green light from his supporters, considering that getting out of the current "impasse" is largely related to them.

At the United Nations, Britain put its draft resolution aside, although countries - such as Germany, which expressed "disappointment" - hope to be adopted next week.

Hafar's attack coincided with a visit by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterich to Libya to push for a national reconciliation conference and a real "setback" for him. The UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salama, was forced to cancel the conference. He was harshly criticized during the week of Hafar and went so far as to describe his attack as "coup."