By RFIPosted 04-04-2019Modified on 04-04-2019 at 20:01

From the operations room of his military base in Benghazi, Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the strongman of eastern Libya, ordered his army to enter Tripoli on Thursday (April 4th).

The vise is tightening on the Libyan capital. Forces loyal to Marshal Khalifa Haftar took the two towns of Sermane and Gheriane east and west of Tripoli. These troops say they are ready to enter the city, after receiving Thursday night the order of the head of the Libyan National Army (ANL) to enter the capital.

The different militias of Tripoli are on alert and say they are ready to fight. This rebound worries the international community and especially the UN. António Guterres, who is currently in Tripoli, called on the parties to restrain him. The UN secretary-general insisted that dialogue and reconciliation are the solution for Libya.

Marshal Khalifa Haftar advocates the military solution for Libya despite all. He has repeatedly expressed his desire to march on Tripoli in recent months, but he first chose to walk to the south, probably to secure his entry into the capital.

Haftar promises to spare civilians, institutions and foreign nationals

In an audio message broadcast this Thursday on the Facebook page of the "media office" of the ANL, he promises to spare civilians, "state institutions " and foreign nationals.

" We are answering the call of Tripoli, " said Marshal Haftar. For the heroes of the nation, the time has come. We have an appointment for the conquest of Tripoli. Go forward then, with confident steps in God, enter the city in peace, for those who want peace. Be rights advocates and not invaders. Do not raise your weapons, except against the one who chooses to confront you. Only shoot against the gunmen. Those who throw the weapons, those who stay at home, those who raise the white flag, will be safe. Ensuring the safety of the inhabitants and protecting their property, as well as all the institutions of the capital, are your duty. "

Tripoli encircled

The media section of the ANL shows since yesterday images with columns of vehicles and armed men: " They are heading to the defined place ," says the legend, designating without citing the capital. Its forces now encircle the city, they settled, without fighting, in two major cities at the gates of Tripoli: Gheryane located 65 km to the west, and Sermane, 60 km to the east. The navy of the ANL would also approach Tripoli. This new operation, the first in this region, aims to purge the west of " terrorists and mercenaries, " said Ahmed al-Mismari, the spokesman for the ANL.

Faced with this unexpected development, Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the national unity government in Tripoli , denounced the " provocations that will lead to an escalation ". The state of emergency was declared in the capital and government-backed forces were put on alert. They are supported by the militia of Misrata, who say they are ready to stop the advance of the troops of the marshal, according to their release.

    On the same subject

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    Libya: Marshal Haftar says he is ready to march on Tripoli

    Secret visit of Libyan Khalifa Haftar to Niger

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