The forces of retired Major General Khalifa Hifter retreated in several axes south of the Libyan capital, Tripoli. This comes at a time when Moscow considered that foreign aid to the parties to the conflict changed the balance of power on the ground, while Berlin affirmed that the crisis could only be resolved politically.
A military source in the forces of the Libyan government, which is internationally recognized, told Al-Jazeera correspondent that these forces advanced to Al-Kayikh area (south of Tripoli), under the cover of heavy artillery fire.
The source added that Haftar's forces had to withdraw from the Sheikh to the island of Qasr Bin Ghashir area (south of Tripoli), which had come under the fire of the reconciliation forces.
The source pointed out that the Qasr Bin Ghashir area is the main defensive line for Haftar forces from the city of Tarhuna (southeast of Tripoli), which is a major stronghold for Haftar's forces.
For his part, Mustafa al-Mujai, a spokesman for the "Barkan Al-Ghazib" operation, which is affiliated with the Al-Wefaq government, said that after controlling the Kaiikh neighborhood, the control of Qasr Bin Ghashir came close.
The military spokesman confirmed that controlling Qasr Bin Ghashir means the collapse of the hubs south of Tripoli as a lifeline for the retired brigade's forces.
The Qasr Bin Ghashir area is 26 km from Tripoli, and it is one of the main areas that Haftar forces depend on to supply its elements in the fighting axes south of Tripoli.
Chase and retreat
A spokesman for the Al-Wefaq government forces, Colonel Muhammad Qanunu, confirmed that his forces had taken control of locations he described as important and advanced in the vicinity of Tripoli airport, and that they were chasing Haftar forces present there.
Haftar's forces still control Tripoli Airport, which is located in the Qasr Bin Ghashir area. The airport went out of service in 2014, and the capital is dependent on the Maitika International Airport for civil aviation.
A military source from the Al-Wefaq government forces confirmed that they are maintaining their positions in the Charisma axis (south of Tripoli), after thwarting Haftar's forces ’attempt to recover their positions in that axis.
During the past two days, Al-Wefaq forces had taken control of large parts of the blenders axis, Ramleh and Ain Zara (south of Tripoli), after violent clashes with Haftar's forces.
Al-Wefaq forces succeeded in controlling over the past few days, fighting axes and strategic camps south of Tripoli, notably the Hamza and Yarmouk camps.
Haftar forces continue to suffer heavy losses as a result of severe blows in the axes south of Tripoli, and all cities of the western coast, up to the border with Tunisia, in addition to the strategic "Al-Wattia" base (west), the towns of Badr and Tiji, and the city of Asaba in the western mountain (southwest of Tripoli) .
With the support of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Russia and France, Haftar forces have launched a faltering offensive since April 4, 2019, to take control of Tripoli, the internationally recognized seat of government, leaving civilians dead and injured, along with extensive material damage.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, informed the Security Council of the killing of 58 civilians and the wounding of at least 190 others, as a result of the fighting in Libya since the beginning of April and until May 18.
Scales change
Politically, the Russian Information Agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying on Friday that the situation in Libya is deteriorating, and that the cease-fire there is falling apart.
And Interfax quoted the Russian spokeswoman as saying that external assistance to the parties to the conflict changed the balance of power on the ground in Libya, adding that her country continues its contacts with all the conflicting Libyan parties.
It quoted Zakharova as saying that Russia insists on resolving the Libyan conflict through diplomatic means, considering that further delay threatens serious consequences.
For his part, Deputy Head of the Al-Wefaq government, Ahmed Maitiq, stressed that the agreements concluded between Tripoli and Ankara had a great impact on changing some of the balance of power on the ground.
This came in a speech delivered by the Libyan official, Thursday evening, during his participation in a seminar on the Internet under the title "Libya after the conflict", organized by the "Atlantic Council", a research institution based in the American capital Washington.
The Libyan official also stressed that Russia and the UAE have no constructive plan for Libya except to destroy the government in Tripoli, noting that Libya, with Haftar, will be under dictatorial administration again.
In a related context, the German government said that the parties to the Libyan conflict are not convinced of political solutions, adding that the crisis there can only be resolved through a political process.
This was stated by government spokesman Stefan Seibert, who emphasized that lasting peace in Libya is going through political solutions, and that Berlin is trying to contribute to this with other parties.
Carrier with an Emirati contract
In related developments, the United Nations welcomed the arrest of France, an oil tanker, which was heading to eastern Libya to load petroleum products.
Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General, indicated that the Libyan National Oil Corporation in Tripoli is the only organization legally able to sell or buy oil.
The US Bloomberg Agency quoted four Western diplomats as saying that the French Navy stopped an oil tanker heading to Libya under an Emirati contract.
Bloomberg reported that the oil tanker was on its way to download refined petroleum products from the port of Tobruk (eastern Libya) as part of selling refined products to a company registered in the Emirates, and that the French navy prevented it from reaching its destination, and left it at sea for about a week.
According to Bloomberg, the French "Cassard Jean-Part" frigate was on an EU mission aimed at enforcing an arms embargo on Libya and preventing illicit oil sales, which could finance the warring parties.