Egypt Calls Upon Warring Parties in Libya to Show Restraint

By: Mohamed Wadie, Norhan Mahmoud 

CAIRO, Apr. 5 (SEE)- Egypt expressed its deep concern over Thursday’s clashes in Libya, urging all sides to ease tensions and avoid escalation, as per a Foreign Ministry statement. 

The statement stressed Egypt's steadfast stance on supporting the the United Nations’ efforts, adhering to the political solution as a sole option to the Libyan crisis. 

It also emphasized the need to continue combatting and eradicating terrorism from Libya. 

What happened on Thursday? 

General Khalifa Haftar, Libyan National Army (LNA)  Commander, ordered his troops to advance on Libya’s Capital Tripoli, sparking concerns of a bloody civil war. As, the city is in the grips of a United Nations-backed government which is at odds with his allying-administration. 

“We are coming Tripoli, we are coming,” said Haftar in an online posted recording. Through this escalation, Haftar aims to “shake the lands under the feet of the unjust bunch.” 

In response, Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Al-Sarraj alerted his air-forces to mobilize and backfire any strikes which threatens the lives of civilians. 

Eventually, counterparts impinged south of Tripoli. 

Haftar’s move risks all the United Nations’ attempts to draw a roadmap for the war-torn country.

Since 2011, the oil producing country has been pided between the two administrations, after a NATO-backed war overthrew President Muammar Al-Qaddafi.