President of the Libyan House of Representatives Aguila Saleh Issa told Sputnik in an interview that it was too early to speak about the date of the end of the operation of the Libyan National Army (LNA)
CAIRO (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 14th May, 2019) President of the Libyan House of Representatives Aguila Saleh Issa told Sputnik in an interview that it was too early to speak about the date of the end of the operation of the Libyan National Army (LNA).
The House of Representatives, Libya's legislature, is generally associated with the country's eastern Tobruk government.
"It is impossible to define the timing of the end of the operation, especially after the terrorist groups [in Tripoli] received assistance from a number of states, including weapons and ammunition ... I expect that the capital will be freed as soon as possible, but taking into account that it is necessary to guarantee the safety of citizens, respect for their rights, and safety of property," Saleh said.
He called the security of civilians the main factor affecting the timeframe of the operation.
"The operation is not stalled. The military simply fears for the safety of civilians. Militants are actually using them as human shields, hiding in houses in the capital ... [But] no resistance will force the Libyan armed forces to abandon the task of liberating the capital," Saleh stressed.
In April, Khalifa Haftar, the head of the LNA, launched an offensive to retake Tripoli from control of the internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA). The LNA has already recaptured a number of settlements near the capital and the Tripoli International Airport, located around 20 miles away from the city. The forces loyal to the GNA announced a counteroffensive, dubbed Volcano of Rage.
Since the overthrow and killing of Libya's long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the country has been gripped by conflict. Libya is now divided between two governments, with the eastern part controlled by the LNA, and the western part governed by the UN-backed GNA.
