Support The Moscow Times!

Aide to Libyan Commander Visits Moscow as a Sign of Haftar's Closeness to Russia

Sergei Lavrov at the Moscow Conference on International Security Russian Defence Ministry

A high-ranking aide to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar was in Moscow on Wednesday, a sign of Haftar's closeness to Russia at a time when forces loyal to him are fighting the internationally recognized government for control of Tripoli.

Kheiri Al Tamimi, the head of Haftar's office, showed up at the high-profile Moscow Conference on International Security, organized by the Russian military. Both the Russian defense and foreign ministers were speaking at the opening session.

A Russian Defense Ministry official guided Al Tamimi through a crowd of delegates and assisted in setting up interviews, including a live broadcast on a Russian state TV channel.

Russia's military has long voiced backing for Haftar, the powerful commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), who dominated eastern Libya and in early April launched an offensive on Tripoli, which is held by an internationally recognized government.

Asked about military support from Russia, Al Tamimi said: "Russia can't do anything before the (arms) embargo is lifted. After the embargo is lifted, we are going to boost our cooperation."

Haftar's troops have failed to breach the southern defenses of Tripoli, and forces backing the internationally recognized administration have pushed back the LNA back in some areas over the past few days. 

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more