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| Libyan renegade general Khalifa Haftar claims he is winning his war | Libyan renegade general Khalifa Haftar claims he is winning his war |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| On a heavily guarded base deep in rural eastern Libya, the renegade general who last month launched an offensive against Islamist militias and their suspected political backers plots a war he claims he is winning. The road to Khalifa Haftar's redoubt is studded with checkpoints manned by sympathetic militiamen and members of the hollowed-out Gaddafi-era army the septuagenarian general says he is resurrecting. Billboards pay tribute to Haftar's fighters killed in what he has dubbed operation Karama – dignity in Arabic. | On a heavily guarded base deep in rural eastern Libya, the renegade general who last month launched an offensive against Islamist militias and their suspected political backers plots a war he claims he is winning. The road to Khalifa Haftar's redoubt is studded with checkpoints manned by sympathetic militiamen and members of the hollowed-out Gaddafi-era army the septuagenarian general says he is resurrecting. Billboards pay tribute to Haftar's fighters killed in what he has dubbed operation Karama – dignity in Arabic. |
| Haftar's campaign began in May with attacks on rival militias in Benghazi, where forces allied to him also overran parliament in Tripoli. Sections of the army have defected to the career soldier, as have some militia and tribal units. | |
| Inside his compound, more than a dozen ageing tanks share space with pick-up trucks mounted with heavy artillery. Security is tight: visitors are frisked electronically several times, their belongings scrutinised. A recent suicide bombing attack on another base used by the retired general has left his people jittery. | Inside his compound, more than a dozen ageing tanks share space with pick-up trucks mounted with heavy artillery. Security is tight: visitors are frisked electronically several times, their belongings scrutinised. A recent suicide bombing attack on another base used by the retired general has left his people jittery. |
| Sitting in a dreary office – there is no electricity – along with various aides, Haftar maintains his war is going better than expected. "We have broken the backbone of our enemies," he declares. As evidence, he claims the number of assassinations has decreased in Benghazi, Libya's second city and the focus of his operation so far. | Sitting in a dreary office – there is no electricity – along with various aides, Haftar maintains his war is going better than expected. "We have broken the backbone of our enemies," he declares. As evidence, he claims the number of assassinations has decreased in Benghazi, Libya's second city and the focus of his operation so far. |
| In fact, assassinations have continued according to local news reports, but where previously the victims were largely army and police officers, now they are mostly drawn from Islamist circles. The beleaguered security forces he contends were sidelined in favour of militias after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 are now, he says, starting to "slowly return to life". | In fact, assassinations have continued according to local news reports, but where previously the victims were largely army and police officers, now they are mostly drawn from Islamist circles. The beleaguered security forces he contends were sidelined in favour of militias after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 are now, he says, starting to "slowly return to life". |
| The general is coy when asked how many men he has directly under his command. Instead, he mocks the chief of staff and ministry of defence in Tripoli. "They do not control anything except the few employees in their headquarters and the files on the tables in front of them. The rest of the army is with us." | The general is coy when asked how many men he has directly under his command. Instead, he mocks the chief of staff and ministry of defence in Tripoli. "They do not control anything except the few employees in their headquarters and the files on the tables in front of them. The rest of the army is with us." |
| But sceptics say the balance of power in Benghazi has not changed significantly since Haftar began his offensive on 16 May with air and ground assaults on several militia bases, including that of Ansar al-Sharia, a hardline group the US state department designated a terrorist organisation in January. Ansar al-Sharia still man their checkpoint on the city's western side. The February 17 brigade, also attacked by Haftar's forces, retains its sprawling base. | But sceptics say the balance of power in Benghazi has not changed significantly since Haftar began his offensive on 16 May with air and ground assaults on several militia bases, including that of Ansar al-Sharia, a hardline group the US state department designated a terrorist organisation in January. Ansar al-Sharia still man their checkpoint on the city's western side. The February 17 brigade, also attacked by Haftar's forces, retains its sprawling base. |
| Benghazi's special forces, who declared support for Haftar, have skirmished with the militias he is targeting but the general himself has not yet been inside the city. "Ansar al-Sharia's presence there and mine here cannot be compared," he counters. "Our fighters are very close to their locations, unlike before. I'm moving between three places outside Benghazi. I'm not a fighter holding his rifle to keep the line." | Benghazi's special forces, who declared support for Haftar, have skirmished with the militias he is targeting but the general himself has not yet been inside the city. "Ansar al-Sharia's presence there and mine here cannot be compared," he counters. "Our fighters are very close to their locations, unlike before. I'm moving between three places outside Benghazi. I'm not a fighter holding his rifle to keep the line." |
| Key to Haftar's strategy is attacking by air – there has been relatively little sustained fighting on the ground in Benghazi itself, most has taken place in its hinterland. One of his allies is Ezzedin Wakwak, a tribal militiaman widely considered to be the real power at the city's airport, which has been closed to civilian flights since Haftar's operation began. Haftar's air force commander, Saqr Geroushi, claims they have 12 aircraft in total: eight MiG fighter jets and four Mi25 attack helicopters, all flown by Russian-trained members of the air forces who have joined Karama. Several Benghazi residents, including some broadly supportive of the campaign, have criticised the use of air strikes in the city, particularly after a university building was damaged. | Key to Haftar's strategy is attacking by air – there has been relatively little sustained fighting on the ground in Benghazi itself, most has taken place in its hinterland. One of his allies is Ezzedin Wakwak, a tribal militiaman widely considered to be the real power at the city's airport, which has been closed to civilian flights since Haftar's operation began. Haftar's air force commander, Saqr Geroushi, claims they have 12 aircraft in total: eight MiG fighter jets and four Mi25 attack helicopters, all flown by Russian-trained members of the air forces who have joined Karama. Several Benghazi residents, including some broadly supportive of the campaign, have criticised the use of air strikes in the city, particularly after a university building was damaged. |
| Haftar estimates that, with his current capabilities, the operation will take six months. "But if we receive military supplies from friendly countries the time will be less," he says, an indication that such help has perhaps not yet materialised despite talk of Egyptian, Emirati and Saudi support. "We have not asked Egypt to conduct air raids in Libya, but if we need this we will ask for it without any hesitation." | Haftar estimates that, with his current capabilities, the operation will take six months. "But if we receive military supplies from friendly countries the time will be less," he says, an indication that such help has perhaps not yet materialised despite talk of Egyptian, Emirati and Saudi support. "We have not asked Egypt to conduct air raids in Libya, but if we need this we will ask for it without any hesitation." |
| He claims to have "indirect contacts" with the US, and hints he believes support may be forthcoming. "I don't think the Americans will stay away from this fight against terrorism. We are battling an enemy hated by the whole world." | He claims to have "indirect contacts" with the US, and hints he believes support may be forthcoming. "I don't think the Americans will stay away from this fight against terrorism. We are battling an enemy hated by the whole world." |
| But Haftar has signalled he may cast a wider net. "The main enemy," he told the Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq al-Awsat last month, "is the Muslim Brotherhood," whose affiliated political party holds the second largest number of seats in Libya's congress, which is due to be replaced in elections on Wednesday. He vowed to purge Libya of the Islamist movement. This alarmed foreign diplomats concerned the country's democratic trajectory may be at risk. Haftar now appears to be back-pedalling – when reminded of his remarks, he claimed not to be in favour of outlawing the Brotherhood. "We are not a copy of Egypt. If it happens in Egypt it does not mean it should happen here." | But Haftar has signalled he may cast a wider net. "The main enemy," he told the Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq al-Awsat last month, "is the Muslim Brotherhood," whose affiliated political party holds the second largest number of seats in Libya's congress, which is due to be replaced in elections on Wednesday. He vowed to purge Libya of the Islamist movement. This alarmed foreign diplomats concerned the country's democratic trajectory may be at risk. Haftar now appears to be back-pedalling – when reminded of his remarks, he claimed not to be in favour of outlawing the Brotherhood. "We are not a copy of Egypt. If it happens in Egypt it does not mean it should happen here." |
| At times Haftar comes across as thin-skinned. He bristles at being described a rogue general. "We are not rebels because there is no state to rebel against. Our behaviour is disciplined, we are not a militia," he says. "Our legitimacy is from the people." | At times Haftar comes across as thin-skinned. He bristles at being described a rogue general. "We are not rebels because there is no state to rebel against. Our behaviour is disciplined, we are not a militia," he says. "Our legitimacy is from the people." |
| But many Libyans who support the idea of Karama say they have reservations about Haftar, a man whose chequered history – including a role in Gaddafi's disastrous 1980s war in Chad before he defected and moved to the US – is well known. He has said he would run for president if the people demand it, comments that prompted comparisons with Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt. | But many Libyans who support the idea of Karama say they have reservations about Haftar, a man whose chequered history – including a role in Gaddafi's disastrous 1980s war in Chad before he defected and moved to the US – is well known. He has said he would run for president if the people demand it, comments that prompted comparisons with Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt. |
| Former allies accuse him of opportunism, a charge that clearly rankles, as does mention of those who appreciate the Karama campaign if not the man. "Who made the Karama?" he responds testily. "I'm not an opportunist, if I was, you would have already seen me in one of the senior positions in the state. I want to see my country safe and free in a democratic atmosphere. That is my goal so far." | Former allies accuse him of opportunism, a charge that clearly rankles, as does mention of those who appreciate the Karama campaign if not the man. "Who made the Karama?" he responds testily. "I'm not an opportunist, if I was, you would have already seen me in one of the senior positions in the state. I want to see my country safe and free in a democratic atmosphere. That is my goal so far." |