UN urges restraint as Libya government braces for attack

The United Nations urged restraint Friday as Libya's Tripoli-based government heightened its alert for a potential assault by forces loyal to eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar, AFP reports. Libya, divided between the UN-recognized government in Tripoli and Haftar’s administration in the east, has been roiled by unrest since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi. While a 2020 ceasefire had mostly held, Haftar’s mobilization has raised concerns about a renewal of fighting. 

The UN Support Mission in Libya called for all parties to avoid provocative actions that could threaten the country’s fragile stability. Western governments have expressed worry over military movements in Libya’s southwest, warning these could escalate tensions and lead to violent confrontations. The Tripoli government’s general staff has ordered its forces to be ready to repel any attacks, with media reports indicating Haftar aims to capture the strategic town of Ghadames, which could undermine the ceasefire and further destabilize the region.