Taking control of the Libyan capital by military operations and by advancing on it with armed forces would be a disaster, according to UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame.

Salame warned, speaking to Financial Times, of escalation of armed fighting and loss of more lives among civilians due to the use of Russian mercenaries by Khalifa Haftar's forces.

Salame said the UNSMIL is working on reaching a ceasefire at any cost and on obliging all parties to the commitment to arms embargo through coordination with Security Council sanctions committee.

This comes amid foreign intervention in Libya's Tripoli fighting and the involvement of mercenaries fighting for Haftar's forces.

Salame also talked about the lack of international community unified stances regarding the situation in Libya, which led to failure to make a resolution to commit Libyans to a ceasefire since Haftar's forces started their offensive in Tripoli last April, saying if the Security Council doesn't take firm positions on Libya, its credibility will be at stake.