After the recapture of the key oil terminals at the oil crescent region by the Benghazi Defense Brigades (BDB), Khalifa Haftar and his forces found themselves faced with a predicament that they had not seen coming.
Radio France Internationale reported on Thursday that Haftar and his forces – along with his foriegn backup squads – have collapsed at the oil crescent region as they couldn’t thwart the operation led by the BDB forces.
“War drums are heard in Libya once again after a period of efforts aiming at peaceful solution to the crisis,” the French radio added, indicating that this is colser to reality in Libya now since the last efforts to hold a meeting between the Head of the UN-proposed government’s Presidential Council, Fayez Al-Sirraj, and the commander of the eastern Dignity Operation forces, Khalifa Haftar in Egypt had been turned down.
“France and the western Powers thought that Haftar’s grip is strongly weighing in into the Libyan crisis, however; we were surprised to see his forces fail to hold their position and lose them to the BDB forces.” The radio reported.
According to the report, many observers see it impossible for Haftar’s forces to regain control of the oil crescent, saying that the Libyan situation is fluctuating every minute.
"What is impossible today in Libya, can be possible tomorrow." It remarked.
The BDB forces handed over the control of the oil terminals to the Presidential Council’s Petroleum Facilities Guard two days ago.
“Khalifa Haftar is now in a very weak situation imside and outside Libya. He is at odds with eastern tribes and other international and local civil societies and human rights organizations because of the travel ban he slapped on women and men under 45.” The Radio France Internationale’s report says.
It added that Haftar has embarrassed his Egyptian allies after he cancelled the meeting with Al-Sirraj in Cairo at the last moment, besides having new strong ties with Saudi Salafisits.
“Losing oil terminals might be the beginning of a dilemma for Haftar on the Libyan scene,” the France Radio Internationale concluded.
