Essebsi: Haftar's attack on Tripoli is not acceptable

The Office of the Presidential Council of the Libyan Government of National Accord stated that Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi rejected the attack of the eastern forces led by Khalifa Haftar on the capital Tripoli.

This came during a telephone call by the Tunisian President to the Head of the Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord, Fayez Al-Sarraj, to discuss the repercussions of the attack Tripoli has been facing.

According to a statement by Al-Sarraj’s Information Office, Essebsi expressed “his country’s absolute rejection of this attack, which destabilises the country and threatens the lives of civilians.”

Essebsi called “the attacking forces to immediately stop the attack and return to their initial positions,” according to the statement.

READ: Tunisia calls for ‘immediate cessation of fighting’ in Libya’s Tripoli

For his part, Al-Sarraj expressed his gratitude to Essebsi and “the position of the neighbouring country”, stressing the determination to resist this aggression with all force.

On Thursday, Haftar announced the launch of a military operation to take control over Tripoli, in a move that has raised widespread international condemnation, amid talks about the existence of regional support for Haftar’ movements.

The seven-day escalation coincided with UN preparations for a dialogue conference in the city of Ghadames between the next Sunday and Tuesday, as part of a UN roadmap to resolve the conflict in the oil-rich Arab country.

Since 2011, Libya has been witnessing a conflict over legitimacy and authority, which is currently centred between the Government of National Accord in Tripoli and Haftar’ forces, affiliated to the House of Representatives held in Tobruk.