Free Officers victory
77-577: Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Omar Haftar ( Arabic : خليفة بالقاسم عمر حفتر , romanized : Ḵalīfa Bilqāsim Ḥaftar ; born 7 November 1943) is a Libyan politician, military officer, and the commander of the Tobruk -based Libyan National Army (LNA). In 2015, he was appointed commander of the Armed forces loyal to the elected legislative body, the Libyan House of Representatives . Haftar
154-658: A "tyrant" and describing "his killings, kidnappings , destruction, and forced disappearances ." As a former commander and spokesman for the Operation, Mohammed Hijazi claims to have knowledge that Haftar is deliberately delaying the war, specifically in Benghazi. Hijazi concluded the recent interview by stating that his life is in great danger "especially as he is in possession of formal documents that could damage Dignity Operation forces and their leaders." On 4 April 2019, Haftar called on his military forces to advance on Tripoli,
231-713: A Wing Loong II drone, which were supplied by the Emirates and were operating from the UAE-controlled Al-Khadim air base. Haftar was the effective head of the de facto "Tobruk" system of government of much of the east and some of the south and west parts of Libya during the Second Libyan Civil War. The 2019 Libyan local elections were prevented from taking place on 27 April 2019, during his leadership, in Sabratha and Sorman . The head of
308-454: A combined air and ground assault against the pro-Islamic militias of Benghazi, as well as a sustained heavy weapons attack against the Libyan parliament. At the time of the Benghazi assault, Haftar, who had already been the target of assassination attempts, reportedly explained to a friend that he was fully aware of the personal safety risks involved in his actions. On 20 May 2014, four days after
385-673: A drone strike on a factory that makes food products in Wadi al-Rabie, Libya , south of Tripoli , a Human Rights Watch investigation found. On 28 August 2020, a leading media site uncovered new evidence, which implicated the United Arab Emirates in a drone strike, where 26 unarmed cadets were hit and killed by a Chinese Blue Arrow 7 missile in January 2020 at a military academy in Libya's capital, Tripoli. The missiles were fired by
462-558: A failed uprising against Gaddafi in the mountains of eastern Libya , before returning to the U.S. Haftar moved to suburban area outside Washington, D.C. , living in Falls Church, Virginia until 2007. He then moved to Vienna, Virginia . From there, and mostly through his close contacts within the DIA / CIA , he consistently supported several attempts to topple and assassinate Gaddafi. He spelled his name " Hifter " in legal documents in
539-489: A future political role through his military leadership. Similarly, while some have celebrated Haftar's role in unifying and successfully leading the fight against the Islamic State, several sources have claimed that Haftar's role in the fighting of ISIS has been largely overstated or motivated by self-serving calculus. For instance, as of early 2016 Haftar's forces were reported to have bombed an Islamist group known as
616-600: A group hoping to overthrow Gaddafi. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades living in the U.S. in Langley, Virginia , and gained U.S. citizenship . In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia in Libya, of crimes against the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya , and sentenced to death. Haftar held
693-661: A mutually beneficial partnership in the administration of the areas controlled by Haftar's forces as well as in the military fight against their Islamist counterpart, especially against the Muslim Brotherhood and Ansar al-Sharia. Some of the Salafi groups allied with Haftar were part of the militias based in Barqa that have fought under his leadership and eventually spread in Benghazi, Jabal al-Akhdar, and Ajdabiya. As Ahmed Salah Ali emphasized in his June 2017 report published by
770-564: A new general election. Haftar remains resolute that one of the aims of Operation Dignity is to completely dismantle the Libyan branch of the Muslim Brotherhood , as well as what he considers to be any other Islamist terrorist organizations within Libya. However, in recent years journalists and critics have observed that, in spite of his formal anti-Islamism mission, Haftar has continuously cooperated with Salafi organizations based in eastern Libya. His ties to these groups have produced
847-783: A senior position in the forces that overthrew Gaddafi in 2011, during the First Libyan Civil War . In 2014, he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to replace the GNC but then developed into the Second Libyan Civil War . In 2017, Ramzi al-Shaeri, Vice-president of
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#1732775836620924-478: A speech, "Never mind consideration of bringing a prisoner here. There is no prison here. The field is the field, end of the story". On 5 November 2017, a former commander in the ranks of Operation Dignity and its former spokesperson, Mohammed Hijazi, described Khalifa Haftar as being "the main cause of the crisis that is crippling the country." Having left Operation Dignity in January 2016 citing corrupt leadership, Hijazi has since spoken out against Haftar, calling him
1001-406: A televised announcement to reveal that the General National Congress (GNC), the elected parliament which had recently unilaterally extended its mandate, had been dissolved. Haftar called for a caretaker government to oversee new elections, and urged Libyans to revolt against the GNC, the mandate of which was still in force at the time. Ultimately, his appeal did not lead to a general uprising due to
1078-505: A televised speech that his forces had finally taken full control of Benghazi, the second largest Libyan city. Haftar's military victory has been regarded by many as the expression of his growing military and political ambitions, and especially of his intention to secure military control over critical areas in eastern Libya. Some of his critics claimed that he deliberately dragged his militias through years of fighting against diverse groups which he framed as Islamist enemies in order to consolidate
1155-603: A top military officer for Gaddafi. He commanded Libyan troops supporting Egyptian troops entering Israeli-occupied Sinai in 1973 . Like other members of the Free Unionist Officers (the junta that toppled the monarchy), Haftar is a secularist and was a Nasserist . He was a member of the Revolutionary Command Council which governed Libya in the immediate aftermath of the coup. Haftar later became Gaddafi's military Chief of staff. In
1232-466: Is also in Libya. Belqasim Haftar serves as his father's top political advisor. Two other sons, Uqba Haftar, who works in real estate, and Al-Muntasir Haftar as well as his daughter Asma Haftar live in Virginia in the United States. Field marshal (Libya) The rank of field marshal ( Arabic : مشير , romanized : Mushir ) is a five-star rank in the current Libyan military,
1309-658: Is estimated to be about 450-500 million USD per month, if at least 5 million barrels per month are delivered. This sum was deemed sufficient to maintain his power base in the region. Haftar has at least six sons and a daughter. Captain Saddam Haftar and Captain Khalid Haftar are officers in the Libyan National Army heading two Madkhali brigades, including the 106th Brigade accused of abducting Seham Sergiwa in 2019. Another son, Al-Sadiq Haftar,
1386-531: The Derna city council and lawyers Ryan Goodman and Alex Whiting accused Haftar of the war crime of ordering the killing of prisoners of war during the recapture of Derna . Haftar has been described as "Libya's most potent warlord", having fought "with and against nearly every significant faction" in Libya's conflicts, as having a "reputation for unrivalled military experience" and as governing "with an iron fist". In November 2021, Haftar announced his candidacy for
1463-756: The Free Officers Movement , a group of Arab nationalist and Nasserist officers in the Libyan Army , which overthrew the Senussi monarchy of King Idris I and resulted in the formation of the Libyan Arab Republic . The Free Officers Movement was led by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi . The government of Idris was increasingly unpopular by the late 1960s due to internal mismanagement, and the rise of Arab nationalist sentiment further weakened his regime. On 1 September 1969, while Idris
1540-516: The Libyan National Army (LNA) by the internationally recognized House of Representatives on 2 March 2015. The Libyan armed forces split up later in the year into the LNA under Haftar's control, which are often supported by Russia and Wagner , and the Libyan Army controlled by the Government of National Accord (GNA). After three years of military campaigns, in early July 2017 Haftar announced in
1617-575: The Libyan National Army (LNA). General Khalifa Haftar , commander of the LNA since 2 March 2015, was promoted to the rank of field marshal on 14 September 2016 by the decision of the House of Representatives (HoR), a partially recognized legislature located in the city of Tobruk , in the eastern Libyan region of Cyrenaica . Haftar was promoted in recognition for his leadership in the Operation Surprise Lightning, capturing
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#17327758366201694-563: The Nixon administration and was only received by a middle-ranking US representative at the United Nations. On 4 September 1969, Idris, in an exchange of messages with the RCC through Egypt's President Nasser , dissociated himself from reported attempts by Omar Shelhi to secure British intervention and disclaimed any intention of coming back to Libya. In return, he was assured by the RCC of
1771-578: The Ouadi Doum airstrike . Shortly after this disastrous battle, Gaddafi disavowed Haftar and the other Libyan prisoners of war who were captured by Chad. One possible contributing factor to Gaddafi's repudiation of Haftar and of other captured prisoners of war may have been the fact that Gaddafi had earlier signed an agreement to withdraw all Libyan forces from Chad, and Haftar's operations inside of Chad had been in violation of this agreement. Another possible reason given for Gaddafi's abandonment of Haftar
1848-517: The Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna who was behind the successful ouster of IS from Derna. Furthermore, experts have questioned whether the LNA could establish its control over the entire national territory, or whether Haftar would allow any military or elected political leader other than himself to guide a national army or government should that opportunity materialize in the future through
1925-615: The Soviet Union , completing a special three-year degree for foreign officers sent to study in the USSR, at the M. V. Frunze Military Academy . Haftar later pursued further military training in Egypt . He was also stationed with the artillery corps. As a young army officer, Haftar took part in the coup that brought Muammar Gaddafi to power in 1969, assisting Gaddafi in the overthrow of Libya's King Idris . Shortly thereafter, Haftar became
2002-550: The U.S. district court in Alexandria, Virginia was brought by families of victims in 2019; the plaintiffs contend that Haftar perpetrated war crimes, including the indiscriminate killing of civilians, during his military campaign backed by United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia. The suit is based on the Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991 . Judge Leonie Brinkema rejected Haftar's motion to dismiss
2079-745: The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Ghassan Salamé , described Haftar in April 2019 as "not a great democrat" ( ce n'est pas un grand démocrate ) and his methods of governance as "using an iron fist" ( il gouverne avec une main de fer ). During Haftar's Tobruk government, nine municipal councils out of 27 in total under the LNA's control were replaced by military administrators. The Government of National Accord in June 2019 captured weapon systems in Libya's rebel compound, which included Javelin anti-tank missiles made by
2156-526: The de facto head of state. The discovery of significant oil reserves in 1959 and the subsequent income from petroleum sales enabled the Kingdom of Libya to transition from one of the world's poorest nations to a wealthy state. Although oil drastically improved the Libyan government's finances, resentment began to build over the increased concentration of the nation's wealth in the hands of King Idris. The kingdom also made little effort in attempting to unite
2233-545: The presidential election in December 2021 before it was postponed. Although Haftar is reportedly an anti-Islamist , his allies include the Salafi Madkhali militias for geopolitical purposes. Besides his native Arabic, Haftar also speaks English , Italian and Russian , and some French . He is a dual Libyan-US citizen. He is expected to renounce his US citizenship before the next Libyan election . Haftar
2310-745: The Americans arranged for them to fly to Zaire instead. There, half of his soldiers decided to return to Libya. In late 1987, Haftar and a group of officers aligned themselves with the National Front for the Salvation of Libya (NFSL), a U.S. supported opposition group. On 21 June 1988, he declared the establishment of the military wing of the NFSL, called the Libyan National Army under his leadership. When U.S. financial aid to Zaire
2387-510: The Atlantic Council, Haftar needs the Salafi support due to his lack of troops and resources on the ground, while his Salafi allies have greatly benefited from their control over religious discourse and their growing military strength in eastern Libya, which have led to an increase in their appeal to unemployed youth. In July 2017 a video posted online featured the execution of 20 suspected ISIS fighters by Haftar's forces, and this led
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2464-490: The Barqa barracks in Benghazi, Umar Muhayshi took over Tripoli barracks and Jalloud seized the city's anti-aircraft batteries. Khweldi Hameidi captured the Tripoli radio station and was sent to arrest crown prince Sayyid Hasan ar-Rida al-Mahdi as-Sanussi and force him to give up his claim to the throne. Upon being arrested, Abdul Aziz Shelhi reportedly said, "No, you fools, the coup is not tonight!" Popular reception of
2541-536: The Benghazi assault, the GNC announced that it had finally scheduled the long postponed national elections that were to replace the then-interim legislature (the Tripoli-based GNC) with the Tobruk -based House of Representatives. These elections were scheduled for 25 June 2014. Later in May, after having been ousted from office by the GNC, Ali Zeidan endorsed Operation Dignity, as did 40 members of parliament,
2618-590: The Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army and Omar Shelhi became the royal counselor. Omar also married the daughter of a former Prime Minister in an "ostentatious ceremony" that further embittered the Libyan people. In mid-1969, Idris travelled abroad to Turkey and Greece during widespread rumors of a coup by the Shelhi brothers on 5 September. In August 1969, Idris offered to abdicate while on holiday in Greece after reports of
2695-566: The Guardian , Egypt's Sisi openly displays unequivocal support for Haftar bombarding Tripoli. He also receives private support by the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for the assault on Tripoli. In November 2016, Haftar made a second trip to Russia to meet with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu . It was reported that while he was seeking weapons and Russia's backing, Russia
2772-560: The Libyan government after the coup. In its initial proclamation on 1 September, the RCC declared the country to be a free and sovereign state called the Libyan Arab Republic , which would proceed "in the path of freedom, unity, and social justice, guaranteeing the right of equality to its citizens, and opening before them the doors of honourable work". The rule of the Turks and Italians and the "reactionary" government which were overthrown were characterised as belonging to "dark ages", from which
2849-407: The Libyan people were called to move forward as "free brothers" to a new age of prosperity, equality, and honour. People of Libya! In response to your own will, fulfilling your most heartfelt wishes, answering your most incessant demands for change and regeneration, and your longing to strive towards these ends: listening to your incitement to rebel, your armed forces have undertaken the overthrow of
2926-400: The Libyan people. The British, who had a major military presence in Libya and close ties with Libya's army high command, also considered a coup inevitable. Then British Defence Secretary Denis Healey later wrote in his memoir in 1991 that "it was obvious that the monarchy was likely to fall at any moment to an army coup", and that the Shelhi family would be the most likely to overthrow
3003-449: The US and labelled for the "armed forces of the United Arab Emirates" inside a wooden crate packaging. The four Javelin anti-tank missiles holding a value of more than $ 170,000 each, were found in a rebel base, reinforcing the army of Gen. Haftar. On 27 April 2020, Haftar made a televised address where he declared that the LNA would accept a popular mandate to govern Eastern Libya, making Haftar
3080-419: The United Nations to call for the LNA to investigate summary executions of prisoners. In general, in many areas under his control several sources have denounced the abuses perpetrated by his militias and the several repressive actions undertaken to limit civil liberties. As of August 2016, Haftar had refused to support the new United Nations Security Council endorsed Government of National Accord , which led
3157-677: The United States and allies to believe that he was jeopardizing the stability of Libya. Libya specialist and RUSI Senior Research Fellow Alison Pargeter pointed out that Haftar may plausibly be regarded as the "biggest single obstacle to peace in Libya" in that he allegedly fears that cooperating with the GNA may lead to the end of his influence in eastern Libya. The United Arab Emirates and Egypt continue to support Haftar. Middle East Eye has reported that British, French, U.S. and United Arab Emirates air forces have assisted Haftar's forces, after analyzing leaked air traffic control recordings. According to
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3234-622: The United States. In 2011, he returned to Libya at the onset of the Libyan Crisis , to support the anti-Gaddafi forces in the First Libyan Civil War . In March, a military spokesperson announced that Haftar had been appointed commander of the military, but the National Transitional Council denied this. By April, Abdul Fatah Younis held the role of commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, Omar El-Hariri
3311-631: The capital of the internationally recognized government of Libya , in the 2019–20 Western Libya campaign This was met with reproach from United Nations Secretary General António Guterres and the United Nations Security Council . On 7 April, eastern Libyan forces launched an airstrike on the southern part of Tripoli, the Bab al-Azizia military compound. On 21 April, Haftar launched several airstrikes and explosions were launched over Tripoli. The GNA and eyewitnesses alleged about
3388-423: The chief danger to the new government lay in the possibility of a reaction inspired by the absent King Idris or his designated heir , Hasan ar Rida , who had been taken into custody at the time of the coup along with other senior civil and military officials of the royal government, including Abdul Aziz Shelhi. Within days of the coup, however, Hasan publicly renounced all rights to the throne, stated his support for
3465-582: The corrupt regime, the stench of which has sickened and horrified us all. At a single blow our gallant army has toppled these idols and has destroyed their images. By a single stroke it has lightened the long dark night in which the Turkish domination was followed first by Italian rule, then by this reactionary and decadent regime which was no more than a hotbed of extortion, faction, treachery and treason. —Gaddafi's radio speech after seizing power, 1969 The RCC advised diplomatic representatives in Libya that
3542-799: The country and poorly managed Libya's internal affairs. This discontent mounted with the rise of Nasserism , Ba'athism , and Arab nationalism / socialism throughout the Arab world . By 1969, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was expecting parts of the Libyan Armed Forces to launch a coup. Although they claimed that they knew of Gaddafi's Free Officers Movement , they had since ignored it, stating that they were instead monitoring Abdul Aziz Shalhi 's Black Boots revolutionary group. Shalhi, who effectively served as Idris' chief of staff, and his brother Omar were
3619-441: The country. After making these threats against Turkey , six Turkish civilians were kidnapped on a ship in Libya by the Libyan National Army on 1 July. The Turkish foreign ministry commented on the kidnappings saying "We expect our citizens to be released immediately. Otherwise, Haftar elements will become legitimate targets". The United Arab Emirates killed 8 civilians and wounded 27 on 18 November 2019. Emirates forces carried out
3696-476: The coup, especially by younger people in the urban areas, was enthusiastic. Fears of resistance in Cyrenaica and Fezzan proved unfounded. No deaths or violent incidents related to the coup were reported. The Free Officers Movement , which claimed credit for carrying out the coup, was headed by a twelve-member directorate that designated itself the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC). This body constituted
3773-510: The course of May and June, numerous pro–Operation Dignity marches were held throughout Libya, and in the 25 June parliamentary elections the secularists gained a clear mandate over and against the Islamist agenda. Meanwhile, despite its initial denouncement of Operation Dignity in May, Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani 's administration subsequently refrained from further official endorsement or denouncement of Haftar's Operation Dignity. However,
3850-641: The de facto leader. Haftar's announcement raised the question of the outcome of the Libyan House of Representatives, who up until Haftar's announcement was the governing civilian government for areas controlled by the LNA. In early April 2021, the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), which is based in Haftar's territories and has a nonaggression pact with him, launched a failed offensive to capture Chad. In
3927-599: The distribution of anti-Idris publications became known to him. Gaddafi's Free Officers recognized 1 September as their chance to overthrow the monarchy before the Shalhi brothers, initiating "Operation Jerusalem". On 1 September 1969, a group of about 70 young army officers known as the Free Unionist Officers Movement and enlisted men mostly assigned to the Signal Corps gained control of
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#17327758366204004-532: The four key oil ports ( Sidra , Ra's Lanuf , Brega and Zuwetina ) in the Gulf of Sirte from the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) during the ongoing Libyan Civil War . 1969 Libyan revolution [REDACTED] Kingdom of Libya The 1969 Libyan revolution , also known as the al-Fateh Revolution or 1 September Revolution , was a coup d'état and revolution carried out by
4081-529: The government and abolished the Libyan monarchy . The coup was launched at Benghazi ; and, within two hours, it was completed. Army units quickly rallied in support of the coup and, within a few days, military control was established in Tripoli and elsewhere throughout the country. The Free Officers occupied airports, police depots, radio stations, and government offices in Tripoli and Benghazi. Gaddafi captured
4158-404: The heads of the navy and the air-force, and much of the army. On 4 June 2014, a suicide car bomber detonated his vehicle at Haftar's residence at Ghut al-Sultan near Abayar, east of Benghazi , killing four people and injuring at least three others. Haftar was not injured in the attack. In eastern Libya, Haftar's air and ground forces remained in place and seemed to be gaining general support. Over
4235-496: The late 1980s, Haftar commanded Libyan forces during the Chadian–Libyan conflict , which ended in defeat for Libya. By 1986, Haftar had attained the rank of colonel, and was then the Chief officer in command of Gaddafi's military forces in Chad in the Chadian–Libyan conflict . During the war, in which the Libyan forces were either captured or driven back across the border, Haftar and 600–700 of his men were captured as prisoners of war , and incarcerated in 1987 after their defeat in
4312-451: The monarchy. The British purportedly favored a Shalhi takeover because they feared the Crown Prince, Hasan as-Senussi , would fall under Nasserite influence and Libya would become a client state of Egypt and by extension, the Soviet Union . Thus, the British considered the Shalhi brothers more likely to continue Idris' pro-Western policy. By April 1969, the Shelhi brothers further consolidated their power. Abdul Aziz Shelhi had become
4389-402: The new government, and called on the people to accept it without violence. On 2 September 1969, Omar Shelhi, who had fled Libya, contacted British Foreign Minister Michael Stewart in London and requested British intervention, by force if necessary, but Stewart refused to offer British support. On 5 September 1969, Omar Shelhi travelled to the United States, but received a frosty reception from
4466-430: The newly elected parliament branded Haftar's enemies "terrorists". On 24 November 2014 and the following day, warplanes affiliated with Operation Dignity forces attacked Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli, temporarily shutting down the airport, but also damaging nearby houses. In response to the attack on Mitiga, a court in Tripoli issued an arrest warrant for Khalifa Haftar. Haftar was officially made commander of
4543-632: The offensive, Chadian president Idris Déby was killed in action on the frontlines. On September 23, 2021, Haftar temporarily withdrew his post from the command of the LNA for a potential run in the 2021 Libyan general election , which was due to take place December 23. Under Libyan law, officials must suspend their current work three months before participating in the election. The election has since been indefinitely postponed. Three civil lawsuits have been filed against Haftar in U.S. federal court , including suits accusing him of war crimes, torture, and other human rights violations. A suit against Haftar in
4620-417: The revolutionary changes had not been directed from outside the country, that existing treaties and agreements would remain in effect, and that foreign lives and property would be protected. Diplomatic recognition of the new government came quickly from countries throughout the world. United States recognition was officially extended on 6 September. In view of the lack of internal resistance, it appeared that
4697-471: The safety of his family still in the country. At his own request and with Nasser's approval, Idris took up residence once again in Egypt, where he had spent his first exile and where he remained until his death in 1983. On 7 September 1969, the RCC announced that it had appointed a cabinet to conduct the government of the new republic. An American-educated technician, Mahmud Sulayman al-Maghribi , who had been imprisoned since 1967 for his political activities,
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#17327758366204774-443: The sons of Idris' longtime chief advisor Ibrahim Shalhi, who had been murdered by Queen Fatima 's nephew in the fall of 1954. After their father's assassination, the Shelhi brothers (including another brother, Busiri, who was killed in a car accident in 1964) became the favorites of Idris. The Shelhi family, who was highly influential in Cyrenaica , was considered "utterly corrupt" and Idris' reliance on them caused discontent among
4851-416: The state's general policy as drawn up by the RCC". The next day the RCC promoted Captain Gaddafi to colonel and appointed him commander-in-chief of the Libyan Armed Forces. Although RCC spokesmen declined until January 1970 to reveal any other names of RCC members, it was apparent from that date onward that the head of the RCC and new de facto head of state was Gaddafi. Analysts were quick to point out
4928-521: The striking similarities between the Libyan military coup of 1969 and that in Egypt under Nasser in 1952, and it became clear that the Egyptian experience and the charismatic figure of Nasser had formed the model for the Free Officers Movement. As the RCC in the last months of 1969 moved to institute domestic reforms, it proclaimed neutrality in the confrontation between the superpowers and opposition to all forms of colonialism and imperialism . It also made clear Libya's dedication to Arab unity and to
5005-486: The substantial lack of resources and local support for his initiative. His announcement was soon dismissed with great skepticism by the then acting Prime Minister Ali Zeidan . Haftar's actions were condemned as a "coup attempt" and "ridiculous". Haftar's strategy was to embark on a series of "town hall" meetings around Libya and, with the support of fellow ex-officers from the military, to secretly build an army. Three months later on 16 May in Operation Dignity, Haftar began
5082-469: The suit in 2020. Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar has also been called a "Libyan oil magnate" by international press articles. The Libyan National Army under his leadership has controlled the oil terminals of Ras Lanuf and Es Sider since 2015. It is estimated that Haftar's forces had protected the production of Libyan crude oil, sometimes through forceful and illegal means, at a level of at least 1 million barrels per day. Accordingly, Haftar's personal income
5159-437: The support of the Palestinian cause against Israel. The RCC reaffirmed the country's identity as part of the "Arab nation" and its state religion as Islam . Parliamentary institutions from the kingdom were dissolved with legislative functions being assumed by the RCC, and the prohibition against political parties was continued, in effect from 1952. The new government categorically rejected communism – in large part because it
5236-461: The use of drones. They said that a plane circled around for over ten minutes, before finally opening fire. In May 2019, Amnesty International accused Haftar of participating in actions that amounted to war crimes during his battle for control of Tripoli . Following the huge military setbacks in June 2019, when his forces failed to seize Tripoli, Haftar ordered the LNA to target Turkish ships and companies, ban flights and arrest Turkish nationals in
5313-450: The weak UN/Western-backed government – as the only realistic bulwark against extremism in post-Gaddafi Libya." In 2017, Ramzi al-Shaeri, Vice-president of the Derna city council and lawyers Ryan Goodman and Alex Whiting accused Haftar of war crimes in the recapture of Derna . They alleged that Haftar had been complicit in calling for extrajudicial killings, arguing that Haftar had called on LNA fighters to take no prisoners, and saying in
5390-416: Was born in Ajdabiya , and is a member of the Firjan tribe. He studied at al-Huda School in Ajdabiya in 1957 and then moved to Derna to obtain his secondary education between 1961 and 1964. He joined the Benghazi Military University Academy (also known as Benghazi Royal Military College) on 16 September 1964 and graduated from there in 1966. In the late 1970s, he went on to receive military training in
5467-494: Was born in Ajdabiya . He served in the Libyan Army under Muammar Gaddafi , and took part in the coup that brought Gaddafi to power in 1969. He participated in the Libyan contingent against Israel in the Yom Kippur War of 1973. In 1987, he was captured and became a prisoner of war during the war against Chad , which was seen as a major embarrassment for Gaddafi and represented a major blow to Gaddafi's ambitions in Chad. While being held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed
5544-403: Was designated prime minister . He presided over the eight-member Council of Ministers, of whom six, like Maghrabi , were civilians and two – Adam Said Hawwaz and Musa Ahmad – were military officers. Neither of the officers was a member of the RCC. Hawwaz and Ahmad would soon be implicated in a failed coup against the RCC in December 1969. The Council of Ministers was instructed to "implement
5621-662: Was holding off pending the new Trump Administration . On 26 December, it was reported that Russia had thrown its weight behind Haftar, saying he must have a role in the leadership of Libya. Russia has since then treated wounded LNA soldiers, printed Libyan dinars for the Tobruk-based government, and signed exclusive agreements that will allow the Russian government to establish two additional military bases in eastern Libya. Global risk experts Giorgio Cafiero and Daniel Wagner recently observed that "Moscow appears to view Haftar – not
5698-505: Was in Turkey, a group of Libyan Army officers under the leadership of Gaddafi launched a coup from Benghazi and quickly established control over the country. The coup was bloodless and received enthusiastic support from the public. Crown prince Hasan as-Senussi relinquished his claim to the throne, and Libya was declared a free and sovereign republic by the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC). Gaddafi, in his capacity as RCC chairman, became
5775-585: Was not forthcoming, Zaire expelled the remainder to Kenya . Kenya only provided temporary residence, and the CIA negotiated a settlement around 1990, enabling Haftar and 300 of his soldiers to move to the United States under the U.S. refugee programme. In fact, the end of the Cold War diminished Libya's geo-strategic relevance and the CIA funding program to Haftar's brigade was suspended. In March 1996, Haftar took part in
5852-426: Was serving as Younis's Chief of Staff , and Haftar had assumed the third most senior position as the commander of ground forces with the rank of lieutenant-general . Younis was assassinated later that summer. On 17 November 2011, Haftar was chosen as the overall commander of the new Libyan Army due to his military experience and loyalty to the revolution that overthrew Gaddafi. In February 2014, Haftar appeared in
5929-570: Was the potential that Haftar might return to Libya as a hero and thus pose a threat to Gaddafi's rule itself. In 1986 and 1987 the Government of Chad accused Libya of using toxic gas and napalm against central government forces and against rebel forces. Libya may have used mustard gas delivered in bombs by An-26 aircraft in final phases of the war against Chad in September 1987. Gaddafi demanded Haftar's soldiers be returned to Libya, but
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