Libya: Haftar Sees Solution in Upcoming Election

Libya's eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar salutes as he participates in General Security conference, in Benghazi, Libya, October 14, 2017. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
Libya's eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar salutes as he participates in General Security conference, in Benghazi, Libya, October 14, 2017. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
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Libya: Haftar Sees Solution in Upcoming Election

Libya's eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar salutes as he participates in General Security conference, in Benghazi, Libya, October 14, 2017. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
Libya's eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar salutes as he participates in General Security conference, in Benghazi, Libya, October 14, 2017. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori

Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar described the upcoming presidential election as the only solution to the current crisis.

He did not rule out his candidacy in the polls, stressing that his main concern at the moment was to "save Libya and rid it of terrorism".

In an interview with Libya's Marsad newspaper, Haftar said that to end the crisis in the country, the people’s will must be fulfilled through elections and establishing stable legitimate political institutions.

The political solution, according to Haftar, demands the formation of a national unity government and a new presidential council composed of three members.

"But as December draws near, we see that time is barely enough to prepare the necessary requirements for elections, especially with the politicians' failure to act, and negative foreign interference in internal affairs, " he added.

On the accusation that he was "an extension of a coup project", Haftar said the Muslim Brotherhood and the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group have turned against the democratic path with the support of some regional parties that are sponsoring terrorism and chaos in the region. They have also rejected the outcomes of the parliament and the peaceful transfer of power in 2014 over baseless excuses.

Meanwhile, head of the Tawergha local council announced the release of 68 people after they were arrested by the Special Deterrence Force.

They called on Fayez al-Sarraj's Government of National Accord and the UN mission in Libya to fulfill their pledges to find a radical solution to the crisis of the displaced.



Israeli Warplanes Strike South of Damascus 

Smoke billows from a strike in Damascus in May 2018. (Reuters file)
Smoke billows from a strike in Damascus in May 2018. (Reuters file)
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Israeli Warplanes Strike South of Damascus 

Smoke billows from a strike in Damascus in May 2018. (Reuters file)
Smoke billows from a strike in Damascus in May 2018. (Reuters file)

Israeli warplanes hit a town south of Syria's capital as well as the southern province of Daraa late on Tuesday, residents, security sources and local broadcaster Syria TV said.

Israeli planes struck the town of Kisweh approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Damascus, a Syrian security source and Syria TV said. The security source said a military site was targeted, without providing further details.

Additional Israeli air raids hit a town in the southern province of Daraa, a resident and Syria TV said.

The Israeli military said in a statement later that it attacked military targets in southern Syria including headquarters and sites which it said contained weapons.

"The Air Force is attacking strongly in southern Syria as part of the new policy we have defined of pacifying southern Syria - and the message is clear: we will not allow southern Syria to become southern Lebanon," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz's spokesperson said in a statement.

He added: "Any attempt by the Syrian regime forces and the country's terrorist organizations to establish themselves in the security zone in southern Syria - will be met with fire."

Residents of Damascus and Reuters reporters in the city heard the sound of airplanes flying several low passes over the capital and a series of blasts.

The bombardment came hours after Syria condemned Israel's incursion into the country's south and demanded it withdraw, according to the closing statement of a national summit.

Israel moved forces into a UN-monitored demilitarized zone within Syria after opposition factions led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former Al-Qaeda affiliate, toppled former President Bashar al-Assad in December.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel will not tolerate the presence of HTS in southern Syria, nor any other forces affiliated with the country's new rulers, and demanded the territory be demilitarized.