UAE praises Haftar’s fight against the ‘disease’ of terrorism

UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has praised Libya’s Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar for his forces’ fight against terrorism during a meeting with the military strongman in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Haftar is currently in the UAE for a few days to discuss ways of strengthening and developing relations between the two countries.

During the visit, Al Nahyan, the deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces, expressed his appreciation of the Libyan National Army (LNA) which defeated militants in Benghazi, significantly reduced the dangers of terrorism in Libya and helped to “reunite and solve its problems”.

The prince called the terrorism a “disease” affecting the entire region and spoke of the “co-ordination” between his country and Libya in fighting terrorist organisations. He also added that the UAE would continue its efforts to unite Libyans and support their efforts to combat extremism.

Haftar’s forces received international condemnation and were accused of war crimes last month when they were recorded digging up graves and parading bodies of militants through the streets of Benghazi.

Photographs also circulated showing dead militants thrown on top of each other and others sprawled across the ground with LNA fighters posing with them.

Haftar’s forces have been involved in anti-Islamist militant operations since 2014 and have been successful in driving the militants, including Daesh, from their strongholds in Sirte, Derna and Benghazi.