U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says farewell to U.S. Ambassador to Libya Gene Cretz and Libyan soldiers upon her departure from Tripoli, Libya, on October 18, 2011. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]
The Clinton-supported destabilization created a power vacuum that allowed Libya to become a mass transit point for migrants trying to illegally make their way to Europe across the Mediterranean. Now it looks like what little order was left in Libya could break down at any moment.
Chris Pleasance reports for the Daily Mail:
- Commander Khalifa Hafter’s forces pushed into Libyan capital Tripoli on Monday
- Fresh airstrikes were launched by his forces and militias loyal to the current Prime Minister around the ruins of the international airport
- 32 people have died, at least 50 are injured and 2,200 have been displaced
- Fighting sparked fresh fears of a migrant influx to Europe, as Libyan security forces are responsible for stopping people smugglers
Fighting in Libya has sparked fears of a fresh migrant influx into Europe as smugglers could take advantage of the unstable government to launch boats across the Med.
The Libyan coast guard, operated by UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, is one of the main safeguards against smugglers and caught 15,000 migrants last year.
But that government is now in peril as commander Khalifa Hafter’s forces pushed further into the city on Monday after a weekend of fighting that saw both sides carry out airstrikes around the ruins of the international airport.
Another 2,800 people have been displaced by the fighting, with the UN warning of ‘significant population displacement’ if the conflict continues.
Hafter’s army, which is thought to be backed by Russian mercenaries, advanced rapidly towards the city over the weekend, prompting US forces to retreat.
Read more here.
