By Jihad Nasr
TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) – Khalifa Haftar, commander of Libyan forces backed by the Tobruk-based parliament, has announced the launch of a military offensive to capture Libya's northeastern city of Derna.
Derna was captured by the Shura Council of Mujahideen after the expulsion of Daesh from the city in 2014.
In a speech delivered late Monday at the Tobruk parliament to mark the fourth anniversary of the Al-Karama military offensive, Haftar said: “We declare zero-hour to liberate the city of Derna. ”
“I gave strict instructions to my forces to protect civilians… and abide by international humanitarian law, ” the general affirmed.
Four years ago, Haftar’s forces surrounded the city of Derna in a bid to capture it from the Shura Council of Mujahideen, which is described as “terrorists ” by pro-Haftar forces — a designation dismissed by the council.
“Peace efforts in Derna have reached a deadlock after more than three years, ” Haftar added.
Haftar went on to attribute the deadlock to “terrorist gangs ” in the city, affirming that “they aim to separate the city from the [rest of the] country”.
The Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna was formed in December 2014 with a view to confronting pro-Haftar forces, who, since then, have imposed a blockade on the city.
