A local militiaman, belonging to a group opposed to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar, stands on a vehicle the group said they seized from Haftar鈥檚 forces at one of their bases in the coastal town of Zawiya, west of Tripoli on April 5, 2019, hours after Haftar鈥檚 froces were pushed back from a key checkpoint less than 30 kilometers (18 miles) from Tripoli, according to security source said. 鈥� The militiamen retook the base after a 鈥渟hort exchange of fire鈥�, the source said April 5 on condition of anonymity. The Zawiya militia is one of dozens that have proliferated since the overthrow of veteran dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 and are variously aligned with the UN-backed unity government in the capital and a rival administration in the east backed by Haftar鈥檚 forces. (Photo by Mahmud TURKIA / AFP)
TRIPOLI, Libya 鈥� Libyan forces under Khalifa Haftar battled their way to the south of Tripoli on Friday, prompting the UN Security Council and the G7 to demand a halt to the military advance on the capital.
Haftar, commander of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA), launched an offensive on Thursday to take the capital, held by a UN-backed unity government and an array of militias.
The lightening assault was ordered as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was in Libya for a visit aimed at cementing a political deal on holding elections.
After meeting with Haftar in the eastern city of Benghazi, Guterres said he was leaving 鈥淟ibya with a deep concern and a heavy heart鈥� and voiced hope that a 鈥渂loody confrontation鈥� could be avoided.
Shortly afterwards, LNA forces clashed with a pro-government alliance less than 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of the capital, a unity government source said.
Haftar鈥檚 press office confirmed there had been 鈥渧iolent fighting on the edge of Tripoli with armed militias鈥�.
Halt all movements
After a closed-door emergency meeting in New York, the Security Council called on Haftar鈥檚 forces to halt their advance and warned that those responsible for re-igniting the conflict will be held responsible.
The appeal for Haftar to halt his offensive was unanimously backed by the council, including Russia, which has supported the strongman.
The council 鈥渃alled on LNA forces to halt all military movements鈥� and 鈥渙n all forces to de-escalate military activity,鈥� said German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, who holds the council presidency.
UN envoy Ghassan Salame told the council that Haftar made clear to Guterres during the Benghazi meeting that he had no intention of halting his campaign, diplomats said.
G7 foreign ministers meeting in the French resort town of Dinard urged an immediate halt to 鈥渁ll military activity and movements toward Tripoli鈥�, warning that civilians were in danger.
LNA forces briefly took over the ruins of a destroyed airport but were driven out by fighters from the capital, government interior minister Fathi Bachagha told Libya鈥檚 Al-Ahrar television station.
鈥淭he fighting is currently taking place in the Gasr Ben Ghechir region鈥� south of the airport, he said.
LNA spokesman Ahmad al-Mesmari said five fighters from his group had been killed in clashes over the past 24 hours, but insisted that it had made 鈥渁n important step forward鈥�.
Earlier in the day, LNA forces were pushed back from a key checkpoint less than 30 kilometres from the capital, checking their offensive.
Pro-government militiamen from the coastal town of Zawiya, west of Tripoli, retook the base after a 鈥渟hort exchange of fire鈥�, a source said on condition of anonymity.
The head of the UN-backed unity government, Fayez al-Sarraj, visited the checkpoint on Friday accompanied by military commanders.
Time has come
The Zawiya militia is one of dozens that have proliferated since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi and are variously aligned with Sarraj鈥檚 government and a rival administration in the east backed by Haftar.
Most of the pro-Haftar fighters who briefly captured the checkpoint late on Thursday were rival militiamen from the town of Sabratha, further west along the Mediterranean coast.
Haftar said 鈥渢he time has come鈥� to take Tripoli in an audio message released on Thursday, pledging to spare civilians and 鈥渟tate institutions鈥�.
The United States and its allies issued a joint statement urging 鈥渁ll parties to immediately de-escalate tensions鈥�.
Russia called for 鈥渁ll possible efforts to fully resolve the situation with peaceful political means鈥�.
Analysts say the advance by Haftar鈥檚 forces comes at a key moment as the UN bids to get elections back on track after an abortive effort last year.
鈥淭he risk of a flare-up has increased,鈥� said Jalel Harchaoui, a researcher at Clingendael Institute in The Hague.
鈥淐apturing Tripoli鈥� remains a possibility鈥� for Haftar, with the support he receives from Saudi Arabia and its allies Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, he said. /muf