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LNA prepares for new offensive as Turkish-backed forces try for Sirte again
[ALMASDARNEWS] The Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar
...Self-proclaimed Field Marshal, served in the Libyan army under Muammar Qadaffy, and took part in the coup that brought Qadaffy to power in 1969. He became a prisoner of war in Chad in 1987. While held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Qadaffy, so it's kind of hard to describe him as a Qadaffy holdover. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades in the United States, gaining US citizenship. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia of crimes against the Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Haftar held a senior position in the anti-Qadaffy forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War. In 2014 he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC, but then developed into a civil war. Guess you can't win them all. Actually, he is, but slowly...
, announced on Wednesday, that the area extending from Wadi Jarif to the al-Washaka will be considered a "military operations area."In a statement, the LNA called on all citizens not to be in this area while taking care and caution, as they prepare to launch a big attack against the Ottoman Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).

This announcement comes in light of the GNA pushing military reinforcements to the al-Hilal oil region east of Sirte.

Despite the fact that the field situation in Libya appears fixed on certain lines, observers expected that the coming confrontation will revolve around controlling energy sources in the eastern part of the country.

Most recently, the Government of National Accord attempted to capture the strategic city of Sirte; however, they were unsuccessful after fierce battle with the Libyan National Army.

Posted by: Fred 2020-06-19
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=574715