Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

The United States has called for an immediate cease to military operations, on Sunday, in Libya as Khalifa Haftar-led Libyan National Army advanced over the capital Tripoli.

According to Reuters news reports, in an official statement, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the US was “deeply concerned about fighting near Tripoli” and further urged discussions to put an end to the fighting.

In an urging de-escalation, Pompeo said, “We have made clear that we oppose the military offensive by Khalifa Haftar’s forces and urge the immediate halt to these military operations against the Libyan capital.”

The Health Ministry of the United Nations-backed Libyan government of National Accord has said late Sunday that eleven people were killed including another 23 injured in clashes in the southern region of Tripoli. However, the ministry offered no further information over whether the casualties were fighters or civilians.

Since 2011, when Muammar Gaddafi was toppled by rebels also backed by NATO air strikes, Libya became a transit point for thousands of migrants to seek refuge crossing the Mediterranean Sea in order to reach Europe.

On Sunday, Haftar’s forces have carried out several air strikes on southern Tripoli and moved forward to the city center, residents said.

The offensive, which began last week, intensifies a power struggle that has fractured the oil and gas producer.

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