Forces led by Khalifa Haftar have announced they'll halt fighting against the rival, UN-backed government in Libya during Ramadan, following international appeals. Haftar's forces have also lost strategic ground.
Image: picture alliance/dpa
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A spokesman for Libya's eastern-based forces said Wednesday that they would cease fire during the rest of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
"The General Command announces a pause in all military operations from its side, and any breach by the terrorist militias will be met with immediate and harsh response," Ahmed al-Mosmari, who represents the forces of military commander Khalifa Haftar, said.
The move was in response to international appeals for a humanitarian truce during Ramadan and, according to news agency AP, so authorities could focus on dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
Libya has been torn between two rival administrations – the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli, and a parallel administration based in the eastern city of Benghazi which is aligned with forces loyal to Haftar.
Violence has escalated in recent weeks with the warring sides accusing each other of shelling civilian neighborhoods. In recent days, the GNA declared its forces had made gains by recapturing two strategic cities west of Tripoli from Haftar's forces. Reuters reported that the pro-GNA forces were supported by Turkish military drones that targeted eastern supply lines.
The acting UN envoy in Libya, Stephanie Williams, on Tuesday called for a humanitarian truce during Ramadan which could pave the way for a permanent cease-fire.
Libya has been embroiled in conflict and lawlessness since the NATO-backed overthrow of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. Despite pledges made at a high-profile peace summit in Berlin earlier this year, the chaos has worsened in recent weeks.
The clashes have also complicated Libya's efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic. So far the country has reported 61 cases and two deaths. The World Health Organization said Tuesday that shelling and water shortages near Tripoli are "just some of the threads that impede our work to protect innocent people from COVID-19 and other health risks."
Ramadan during the coronavirus pandemic
Ramadan is Islam’s holy month of fasting, spiritual reflection and prayer. But how are Muslims adapting to the reality that many mosques across the world are shut due to the coronavirus lockdown?
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