Libya’s United Nations-backed government rejected a truce offer during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan from the Eastern Libyan forces of military strongman Khalifa Haftar.
The Government of National Accord (GNA), which is based in the capital Tripoli, said in a statement on Thursday that it did not trust the Libyan National Army (LNA).
“We confirm our fixed position that we will continue with our legitimate self-defence and strike the source of threat wherever it is,” the statement said.
A spokesman for Haftar’s forces on Wednesday said that they had ceased all military operations following appeals by the international community for a humanitarian truce to enable authorities to focus on dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
Ahmed Mismari, who spoke on television, said the ceasefire came following a request by the international community and “friendly countries”.
Mismari’s announcement comes in the wake of Haftar’s forces being expelled from several key western cities following a counter-offensive by troops loyal to the GNA in late March.
A number of ceasefires have been called in the past between the GNA and LNA but have failed to hold with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreements.
In April 2019, Haftar’s forces launched a military offensive to take control of the capital, Tripoli, but the offensive has largely been frustrated by forces loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA).
Libya has been mired in crisis since 2011 when longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi was ousted from power by a NATO-backed uprising.
