Fighting flares on outskirts of Tripoli

Fresh fighting has flared near the Libyan capital, Tripoli, between pro-government forces and rebel fighters from the east of the country.

The rebels, told to march on Tripoli by their leader Khalifa Haftar, said they had been targeted by an air strike.

Tripoli is the home of Libya’s internationally recognised government, which has the backing of the UN.

The UN’s Libya envoy has insisted that a planned conference on possible new elections will still go ahead.

• Why is Libya so lawless?
• Who is military strongman Khalifa Haftar?

UN troops in the capital have been placed on high alert.

Libya has been torn by violence and political instability since long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011.

What’s happening on the ground?

General Haftar – who was appointed chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA) under an earlier UN-backed administration – is fighting for control of an area about 30km (20 miles) south of Tripoli near the disused international airport.

The LNA said it “strongly condemned” the air raid in the Al-Aziziya region which it said was carried out by a plane that had taken off from Misrata.

Pro-government forces in Tripoli said they had targeted Gen Haftar’s forces with “intensive strikes”, AFP reported.

On Friday the LNA briefly seized the airport before being pushed out. They also briefly seized a checkpoint to the west of Tripoli but were again driven back.

Armed groups allied to the Tripoli government told Reuters on Friday that they had taken a number of LNA fighters prisoner.

Gen Haftar ordered his forces to advance on Tripoli on Thursday, as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was in the city to discuss the ongoing crisis.

Gen Haftar spoke to Mr Guterres in Benghazi on Friday, and reportedly told him that his operation would not stop until his troops had defeated “terrorism”.

Tripoli residents have begun stocking up on food and fuel, AFP reported.

LNA troops seized the south of Libya and its oil fields earlier this year.

Real Life. Real News. Real Voices

Help us tell more of the stories that matter

Become a founding member

What’s been the reaction?

The G7 group of major industrial nations has urged all parties “to immediately halt all military activity”. The UN Security council has issued a similar call.

Russia has also called on parties in the escalating conflict to find an agreement.

Speaking in Egypt, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov also warned against what he called foreign meddling in Libya.

Russia and Egypt have provided support to Gen Haftar.

UN envoy Ghassan Salame said on Saturday that the conference planned for 14-16 April would still be held in time, despite the escalation – “unless compelling circumstances force us not to”.

Hope dashed for a political resolution?

By Sebastian Usher, BBC Arab affairs editor

It’s still unclear how much this is a show of force to bolster Gen Haftar’s position or a genuine effort to seize Tripoli.

He returned during the revolution and he’s subsequently become the most powerful military leader in a country rife with militias, allied to a rival government in the east.

Despite the chorus of international concern over his actions, he has had support from powerful outside players, including the UAE and Egypt.

Efforts towards a political resolution for Libya have foundered time after time. The most recent hopes may once again have been dashed.

Who is Khalifa Haftar?

Born in 1943, the former army officer helped Colonel Muammar Gaddafi seize power in 1969 before falling out with him and going into exile in the US. He returned in 2011 after the uprising against Gaddafi began and became a rebel commander.

In December Haftar met Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj from the UN-backed government at a conference but refused to attend official talks.

He visited Saudi Arabia last week, where he met King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for talks.

Subscribe to the newsletter news

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe