...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..., withdraws from Sirte and al-Jafra, and returns to the Skhirat agreement.
He said in the interview that the GNA is determined to continue its operations (against Haftar’s forces) unless Haftar withdraws from the coastal city of Sirte, and the al-Jafra region, which hosts a strategic air base.
Cavusoglu pointed out the danger "posed by the festivities that turned into a proxy war in Libya."
He stressed that the escalation of tension could lead to a direct conflict between foreign forces supporting the various parties in Libya.
Regarding the bombing of the al-Watiyah Airbase in western Libya, Cavusoglu confirmed that an investigation had been opened, and that those responsible for the bombing would be held accountable for their actions.
He pointed to the presence of
Cavusoglu stated that during the visit of a delegation to Istanbul last month, Russia made a "concrete offer on the armistice with a specific date and hour for the armistice in Libya."