Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar ordered his troops on Thursday to “advance” on Tripoli, seat of the internationally-recognised unity government, as world powers warned of consequences for military action.
Haftar’s forces announced on Wednesday they were gearing up for an offensive in the west of the country to purge it of “terrorists and mercenaries”, having seized key areas of the country’s south since the start of the year.
“The time has come,” Haftar said in an audio message released Thursday by his self-proclaimed Libyan National Army, pledging to spare civilians and “state institutions”.
Dozens of militias have fought for control of the North African country since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.
Haftar’s forces have emerged as a key player, opposing the Government in Tripoli and backing a parallel administration in the east.
On Thursday evening LNA spokesman Ahmed Mesmari announced that the force was “at the gates of the capital” and said it was not clear whether there would be any resistance from armed groups there.
Unity Government chief Fayez al-Sarraj earlier condemned Haftar’s “escalation” and said he had ordered loyalist forces to prepare to “face all threats”.
His interior ministry announced a “state of maximum alert” and powerful armed groups from Libya’s western city of Misrata said they were ready to halt Haftar’s advance.