...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...'s command - has carried out an
on El Feel oilfield in southwestern Libya, hitting the runway as a Libyan Airlines airplane was preparing to transport sick and maimed people for treatment in Tripoli...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
According to sources from the scene, no casualties were reported and the strike hit the runway of El Feel oilfield.
The attack on a civilian plane was rendered by the Presidential Council (PC) as a terrorist act that is punishable by Libyan and international laws.
"We condemn in the strongest terms this attack by the General Command of eastern Libya on Libyan civilians and we consider it a terrorist act and a crime against humanity." The PC said in a statement Saturday, following the attack.
The PC also said that it had instructed the Foreign Ministry to document the attack and present it to the United Nations
...an idea whose time has gone...
Security Council.
"Those responsible for this attack are subject to punishment by law and shall be held accountable. This is an attempt to deprive Libyans of their oil resources and to drag Libya backward into chaos and war." The statement reads.