The Wall Street Journal has revealed that an offshore firm based in Dubai is suspected of helping Khalifa Haftar market Libyan oil in the Mediterranean.

The newspaper said Wednesday, citing US, European and Libyan officials, that the US was investigating a visit by Haftar to Caracas to broker an oil and fuel deal with UAE and Venezuelan intermediaries.

The United Nations, the officials said, was also probing a Dubai-based shipping firm suspected of helping Haftar sell Libyan oil in the Mediterranean.

Venezuela has been finding difficulties in selling oil and purchasing fuel and other oil derivatives due to strict US sanctions on its economy.

The UN and US investigations are part of an international effort that aims to stop illicit oil sales by Haftar, who hopes to use the money to fund his offensive on Tripoli, which has been ongoing for 14 months.