Forces loyal to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar reached a security barrier within 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the capital Tripoli late Thursday, an AFP journalist saw, as world powers warned of consequences for military action. General Abdessalem al-Hassi, head of operations for Haftar’s self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) in the eastern region, said his forces had seized the roadblock without any fighting. Haftar’s forces announced Wednesday they were gearing up for an offensive in the west of the country to purge it of “terrorists and mercenaries”, having seized key areas of the country’s south since the start of the year.
