Sources close to Libya’s Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar said that surprises are heading towards Tripoli. The announcement comes at a time the military official also gave a warning on intervening in the political process should current peace efforts led by the United Nations fail.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya Fayez al-Sarraj told Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım that his government is concerned with the fate of the three Turkish technicians kidnapped in Libya.
Sarraj explained that his government has mobilized in the region to free the abductees.
He also praised Turkey's decision to reopen the Turkish embassy in the capital Tripoli.
On the other hand, militants close to the army's leadership said that battalions and militias in Tripoli would announce their allegiance to Haftar from inside the capital, in a way that would change the balance of military force on the ground inside the city.
Haftar’s media offices re-ran footage from a speech given by the field marshal in which he affirmed the sovereignty and freedom of the homeland, pledging that "we will safeguard this secretariat with all our energy and capabilities."
But the United Nations mission and Western governments, in support of the national reconciliation government led by Sarraj, ruled out in return a military solution to the Libyan crisis.
The international community stresses on backing and instating the Skhirat political agreement until presidential and legislative elections are held next year.
On the other hand, violent clashes took place near the international airport in Tripoli, where an airport official told Asharq Al-Awsat that air travel activity was halted for at least two hours before resuming.
The clashes took place in the vicinity of the airport but not inside, the official said.
On different matters, European and African officials announced a plan to speed up extradition of migrants held in government detention centers in Libya, but did not give an exact timeframe.
