The retired Major General Khalifa Hafer announced the launch of what he called the process of liberating Tripoli, while the President of the Libyan Presidential Council, Faiz Al-Sarraj, the state of public alarm to face the military escalation by the forces of Hafer.

Retired Brigadier General Khalifa Hafer called on residents of Tripoli to lay down their arms and raise the white flag to ensure their security and safety. He also called on his fighters to protect the safety of citizens, public facilities and foreign guests.

He said that this process, which was called "the process of liberating Tripoli," comes in response to the calls of Tripoli's people who are patient, he said.

Ready and light
For his part, the head of the Government of National Reconciliation Serraj in an immediate telegram to the Ministry of Defense and the Chief of Staff and the Presidential Guard and other military areas to raise the degree of extreme readiness, re-positioning and address all threats to the lives of civilians from groups described as terrorist and criminal.

He also ordered the Air Force to use force to counter all threats to civilian life and vital facilities, condemning this "escalation" and expressing his regret for the "statements and statements provocative."

Mobilization in Misurata
And immediately announced the battalions of the city of Misurata with a striking force in the West that all the components of military, revolutionary and civil in the city is ready to defend the homeland, as she put it.

She explained in a statement that what she described as the rebellious insurgent Khalifa Hafter and his assistants are trying to expand to the western region with the aim of installing Hafter governor of Libya, and that they allow themselves to enter.

These developments came after the forces loyal to Hafter control of the city of Gharian, about 100 km south of the capital Tripoli, and play a vital role in protecting and securing the capital to the south.

Call to stop escalation
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterich on Thursday called for a halt to the escalation, stressing that there is no military solution to the conflict, and there is no alternative to political dialogue.

"I would like to make a strong appeal to stop the escalation," Guterich told a news conference in the Libyan capital of Tripoli held at the United Nations compound in Tripoli.

On the future of the conference planned by the United Nations, Guterich stressed that there will be no national conference in Libya in such circumstances, adding that it is necessary to hold the Libyan National Congress in a calm atmosphere.

European concern
For its part, the EU said it was deeply concerned about Libya's military buildup and rhetoric that could lead to an uncontrollable confrontation.

The Union urged all parties to immediately cease the truce and stop all provocative actions, noting that there would be no military solution to the Libyan crisis.

The European Union indicated that it supported the mediation efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ghassan Salama.

He added that he considered the upcoming national conference to be held within days a historic opportunity for all segments of Libyan society to agree on the political road map that will end the transitional period.

He urged all parties to take the opportunity to visit the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, and to engage in a spirit of compromise in order to avoid further bloodshed.

In a tweet on Twitter, the US embassy in Libya strongly condemned the ongoing escalation in the country, and called for restraint.