According to Al Hadath TV, the LNA reserves the right to respond to attacks, said Major General Ahmed al-Mismari.
The Libyan National Army, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, has stopped fighting in the country but reserves the right to respond to attacks. The LNA spokesman, Major General Ahmed al-Mismari, said so.
“In response to a call from friendly countries, the [LNA] General Command announces a unilateral halt to all hostilities, reserving the right to respond immediately and harshly to any violations by terrorist groups”, – Al Hadath quoted Al Mismari as saying.
The announcement came two days after the LNA, which has been attacking Tripoli for over a year, announced on 27 April that it was taking over the administration of the State. At the same time, Haftar had nullified the Skhirat agreement, which he said had “destroyed the country and put it in danger. He promised to work towards the establishment of permanent civil authorities in accordance with the will of the people. The Presidential Council of the National Accord Government, sitting in the capital, called Haftar’s statement an “attempted new coup”.
The Field Marshal’s decision was negatively perceived by most nations. The UN pointed out that they support a political agreement on settlement in Libya and are against any changes achieved through military means. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow does not approve of the LNA commander’s statement that now he “will decide alone how the Libyan people should live.”