...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. 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...after arriving in Taminhint to control the southern region.
"Such a rejection will be a hindrance to the military operation in southern Libya to end the presence of terrorist, criminals and Chadian mercenaries." Sources close to Haftar said.
The sources added that Ahrar Fezzan, Shuhadaa Sabha, and Shuhadaa Waw brigades, as well as Shuhadaa Murziq and Um al-Aranib brigades, are funded and supported by the Defense Ministry of the Presidential Council, hence reject joining Haftar's forces or giving them control of their cities.
"This could lead to festivities between forces of the National Army and the rejecting brigades." The sources added.
The self-styled army in eastern Libya, led by Haftar, has launched a military operation to advance on the southwestern districts in Libya to "secure and protect the residents from forces of Evil and criminal groups."
The operation is aimed, according to Haftar's forces, to protect the people from the forces of Evil and criminals who work for foreign parties to change the topography of Libyan and its identity.