Libya’s Civil War Has Turned a Corner, But It’s Far From Over
The endgame will bring more fighting that no outside power, not even the U.S., has the leverage to halt.
Not over ‘til it’s over.
Photographer: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
It’s been a long time since the news from Libya warranted optimism, but the beleaguered Government of National Accord in Tripoli finally has grounds for cheer — for now, anyway. Its nemesis, the rebel commander Khalifa Haftar, no longer stalks the periphery of the capital: His Libyan National Army has been retreating for weeks.
Haftar’s bid to take all of northwestern Libya by force of arms has ended, and his allies are calling for a cease-fire. The GNA and its backers have brushed aside offers of parley and are advancing toward the “oil crescent,” a string of northeastern ports vital to the country’s hydrocarbon exports.