Libya’s Haftar: Army will intervene in Tripoli at the right time

The army will move towards Tripoli at the right time, in the right way, Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar said during several meetings with tribes east of the country on Thursday.

Haftar also refuted any connection between the army and the armed groups clashing in Tripoli.

Fighting erupted last week when the Seventh Brigade, militias, which hail from Tarhouna, a town about 60 km south of Tripoli, attacked southern neighborhoods of the capital. The Tripoli Revolutionaries’ Brigades and the Nawasi Brigade – militias, which support the UN-backed government - have come to the city’s defense.

The death toll from more than a week of fighting between armed groups in Tripoli has climbed to at least 50 people, including civilians.

UNSMIL warns forces launching attacks from populated residential areas, especially those forces AbdelGhani al-Kikli AKA Ghnewa’s command. @UN reminds them that they R signatories 2 a binding ceasefire agreement & that exposing #civilians to harm is prohibited by #IHL #Tripoli pic.twitter.com/XPhH29RcLr

— UNSMIL (@UNSMILibya) September 20, 2018

Haftar added that everyone involved will be prosecuted, including governing bodies in Tripoli who support the militias.

The Al-Wefaq government is still unable to force the warring militias to cease fighting and abide by the UN-sponsored ceasefire agreement signed on September 6.

The UN has called on all warring sides especially militias led by Salah Bady to cease fire immediately in Tripoli, considering the targeting of civilians and institutions are top crimes.