Libya crisis: Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj vows to defend Tripoli

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

In a televised address Fayez al-Serraj accused General Khalifa Haftar of launching a coup, saying his troops would be met with "strength and power".

The rebels are on the outskirts of the capital and say they have seized Tripoli's international airport.
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Rebel forces are advancing on Tripoli in a multi-pronged attack from the south and west of the city, although they have reportedly been slowed by pro-government fighters.

Gen Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) troops seized the south of Libya and its oil fields earlier this year.



Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-47842729

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Not sure of how much play this is getting in US media, but it seems worth people knowing a major civil war is at a crucial stage in Libya.

[Socal31]

1. Defense Department has relocated a QRF of Special Operators to the area.

Another Benghazi incident is to be avoided at all costs.

I will keep the civilians in my thoughts.

[Hortensis]

2. Imagine our ambassador is safe in our embassy

Last edited Sun Apr 7, 2019, 08:14 AM - Edit history (1)

or consul and not out inspecting far areas and staying too long in one place. Brave man, one fatal mistake.

Yes, best wishes to Libya and its people. Foreigners could take refuge in their consuls and embassies if it came to it. I imagine those of most nations today are fortresses. Ours certainly are, for good reason

[Dazbog]

4. I would strongly suggest that all embassy personnel evac'ed.

Definitely do not want another repeat of Benghazi where Stevens died.

[Hortensis]

5. Dazbog, Stevens was far from his fortresses and stayed too

long in one place. Stevens knew that Libya had over 5000 militias at the time and that he would be a prize target for most of them. Potential danger was not a new situation for him. In fact, he arrived secretly in Libya during the revolution on a freighter; no red carpet or dignitaries to greet him then. But that day he was too careless and his and his escort's luck was not with them.

You might like to read about that whole thing. He was a fine man and it's very interesting, far more than the Republicans' horror-cartoon version that an evil witch got him killed.

As for visiting foreigners, I've read that those working in out the oil sector are being evacuated, and no doubt many in the cities for business are cutting that short. Travel to Libya has been under warning of danger for years now. But please understand that if 1000 foreigners were killed it would not be a "repeat of Benghazi." Stevens was attacked because he was the U.S. ambassador and happened to be overnighting in a very indefensible location. Most visitors will be in Tripoli or other urban areas, many staying at places like the Radisson and other hotels in Tripoli, etc., that cater to foreigners and are close to air and sea ports.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

3. Good refresher on Libya here....

From a couple of years ago, but still appropriate. The BBC has us covered:

Why is Libya so lawless?
25 May 2017

Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-24472322

And, from The Guardian (includes a good map):

US forces evacuated from Libya as Haftar seeks military control
Fighting rages between UN-backed Tripoli government and self-styled Libyan National Army
Patrick Wintour and Chris Stephen
Sun 7 Apr 2019

Link: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/07/libya-us-forces-evacuated-haftar-seeks-military-control

(snips)

US forces were dramatically evacuated from the Libyan capital on Sunday as fighting raged in the city between militia allied to the UN-backed government of Tripoli and the self-styled Libyan National Army led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the leading military figure from the east.

Haftar is seeking to capture the capital and seize military control of the whole country before UN-sponsored talks due to start next week that were designed to map out a path to fresh elections.

Footage on social media showed two fast US navy transport craft manoeuvring off a beach in Janzour in Tripoli’s western suburbs, sending up plumes of spray as American forces were ferried from the shore.
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The evacuation is the first public acknowledgement that the US has forces in Libya, with the US Africa Command saying in a statement: “Due to increased unrest in Libya a contingent of US forces supporting US Africa Command temporarily relocated from the country in response to security conditions on the ground.”
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Jonathan Winer, a former US ambassador to Libya, was also scathing about Haftar’s methods, saying on Twitter: “Haftar has built patronage networks over a five-year period now strengthened by foreign financial support and military support. His goal has long been to take [the] country by mixture of conquest and acclamation and to end ‘politics’ and replace that with military rule.”

KY........