Haftar: Failure of Dialogue Compels Libyans to Determine Fate

Libyan General Khalifa Haftar speaking during his meeting with the Tunisian president on September 18, 2017 in Tunisia. (AFP)
Libyan General Khalifa Haftar speaking during his meeting with the Tunisian president on September 18, 2017 in Tunisia. (AFP)
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Haftar: Failure of Dialogue Compels Libyans to Determine Fate

Libyan General Khalifa Haftar speaking during his meeting with the Tunisian president on September 18, 2017 in Tunisia. (AFP)
Libyan General Khalifa Haftar speaking during his meeting with the Tunisian president on September 18, 2017 in Tunisia. (AFP)

General Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), considered that the ongoing dialogue in Tunis is the only solution for the Libyan problems and in case the dialogue fails to find political solutions then doors will be wide-open for the Libyan people to determine their fate.

In two separate meetings, Haftar met officers and soldiers from the LNA pointing out that the unity of the army was formed in the field and that the victory was achieved thanks to all sons and fighters of the army.

He announced that his forces now have control over the majority of the Libyan territory, with only 30 square kilometers remaining.

Haftar said there were no “indications” that the ongoing UN-sponsored dialogue could be the solution to the current political crisis in the country, pointing out that the door of other alternatives approved by the people remains wide open.

“The army and all security services will answer to the wishes of the people,” he added.

For its part, ISIS Fighting Operation Room (IFOR) in Sabratha denied the figures provided by Haftar because the army has no control over many regions in the west of Libya.

The Supreme Council of the Libyan Tribes and Cities, however, called on fighters and civilians to clear their cities and villages from militias, adding that the cohesion between the armed forces and people in Sabratha led to liberating it from terrorist gangs.

In its statement, the council added that the successive governments failed to protect the people from grave violations and horrible crimes against children, elders, and women that are taking place every day.

He added that throughout seven years, these governments couldn’t prevent the exhaustion of the Libya’s wealth.



Syrian Army Takes Control of Tishrin Dam from SDF

Syria's Tishrin Dam. (File photo)
Syria's Tishrin Dam. (File photo)
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Syrian Army Takes Control of Tishrin Dam from SDF

Syria's Tishrin Dam. (File photo)
Syria's Tishrin Dam. (File photo)

Syrian army troops have deployed near the Tishrin Dam in the eastern countryside of Aleppo province, setting up military positions in what appears to be a step toward assuming control of the facility from the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Pro-government broadcaster Syria TV cited an official source on Monday as saying the military had entered the outskirts of the Tishrin Dam area and established military outposts in preparation for a handover of the strategic site.

The dam, located near the city of Manbij, has been under the control of the Kurdish-led SDF, which played a key role in the fight against ISIS in northern Syria with the backing of the US-led coalition.

Syria’s transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and SDF leader Mazloum Abdi signed an agreement on March 10 aimed at integrating all civil and military institutions of the Kurdish-led autonomous administration in northern and northeastern Syria into the Syrian state.

Syrian authorities, the SDF, and Türkiye had reached an agreement, brokered by the United States, for the transfer of the Tishrin Dam to the Syrian government.

Under the deal, the military will deploy forces around the dam, while teams from Damascus have already begun maintenance and upgrading works on the facility.

The agreement aims to bring an end to the fighting that had erupted between Syrian factions loyal to Türkiye, which have integrated into the Syrian army, and the SDF. The clashes, which had persisted for over three months since December 12, have now subsided.

On Thursday, Türkiye’s Ministry of Defense announced that Ankara is closely monitoring the implementation of the agreement regarding the handover of the dam.

The deployment of Syrian forces around the dam comes amid reports of renewed tensions in the area, which had been relatively calm for nearly a month. Syria’s state-run Syria TV reported that the military had sent reinforcements to areas previously affected by clashes with the SDF.

Additionally, reports said the SDF and Syrian forces were on alert after Turkish drones launched an attack near the dam, following the death of a fighter from Türkiye-backed factions in the region. The situation continues to evolve as both sides remain on edge in the strategic area.