Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar had held talks with officials from the American administration during his visit to Cairo last week, an informed source revealed.
The American delegation included officials from the Defense and State Departments, as well as members of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), the source told Asharq Al-Awsat on condition of anonymity.
The AFRICOM spokesman did not reply to Asharq Al-Awsat when asked to comment about the reports. He instead said that questions should be posed to the State Department.
An official from the State Department told Asharq Al-Awsat that American government officials were in contact with several Libyan leaders, as well as international partners, in order to achieve stability and return Haftar and head of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez al-Sarraj, to the negotiations table.
The ongoing fighting is endangering the lives of innocent civilians, destroying the civilian infrastructure and undermining American counter-terrorism efforts in Libya, he added.
Permanent peace and stability can only be achieved in Libya through a political solution, he said on condition of anonymity.
He called on all parties to immediately return to the UN mediation.
Haftar had in April held telephone talks with US President Donald Trump and his National Security Adviser John Bolton in what was seen as a shift in American policy from Sarraj to the LNA chief.
Haftar is expected to soon embark on a European tour that will see him make stops in France and Italy.
Sarraj had last week made similar visits in an attempt to garner support to the GNA and pressure the LNA to stop its march on Tripoli where his government is based.
On April 4, Haftar had launched an operation to liberate the capital from terrorist and criminal gangs.
On the ground, the LNA announced that it had captured the al-Zahra, al-Tweisha and Azizia areas in southern Tripoli.
The developments took place as LNA jets continued to pound the al-Sawani district in Tripoli amid the steady advance of land units.
The LNA has now set its sights on advancing on the heart of the capital “to target the militias of the terrorist criminal Ghaniwa al-Kakali, who will collapse very soon.”
