But a rival government set up in eastern Libya and aligned with Haftar, 76. Its allies dealt Haftar’s forces a series of defeats culminating in the takeover of his last strongholds near the capital by the first week of June. Backed by Russian mercenaries, Haftar’s forces are now concentrated in Sirte and the central Libyan Juffra airbase. In late May, the U.S. military’s Africa Command said Russia had sent at least 14 jet fighters to eastern Libya to support Haftar, in its most overt intervention yet. One option is to turn Sirte, the gateway from western Libya into the bulk of oil ports and terminals, into a demilitarized zone.

Source: Libya Today July 17, 2020 16:07 UTC