Field Marshal Haftar to Central Region Elders: “Your Support Is Our Fuel… The Political Crisis Must Be Treated Today, Not Tomorrow”
Libya — Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar, Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, addressed a gathering of sheikhs and dignitaries from the central region, underscoring the symbolism of the military city as a “factory of loyal men” and voicing pride in their journey to attend in support of the Armed Forces, which he said “derive their legitimacy from a broad popular base.”
Recognition of the social base
Haftar stressed that the presence of tribal elders and notables “confirms their keenness to be at the forefront,” describing their backing as “fuel that gives the Armed Forces strength and confidence, spurring them to give more,” while reassuring citizens that “the army is on the right path and the nation is safe.”
Message to critics and media skeptics
He said “enemies and ill-wishers are shocked” by this popular alignment, asserting that “their plots and misleading media campaigns to shake the standing of the Armed Forces have failed,” and that attempts to tarnish the army’s reputation and “belittle its sacrifices” will lead only to disappointment.
The Dignity experience and defeating terrorism
Haftar noted that “great national goals are achieved only when the people adopt them of their own free will,” citing the defeat of terrorism in the Operation Dignity campaign—“decided by the people and the tribes without waiting for anyone’s permission,” relying on God and “on ourselves.”
Diagnosing the political crisis
He warned that the country is gripped by a “protracted and suffocating political crisis,” and that all settlement efforts have “failed to prevent its escalation,” to the point of threatening the nation’s safety and territorial unity. Accompanying this, he said, are “corruption, the plunder of resources, the absence of the rule of law and state authority,” and a scene dominated by the “struggle for power and influence.”
A call for direct popular will
Speaking “frankly and clearly,” Haftar urged Libyans to address the crisis “ourselves,” without waiting for solutions that “fall from the sky or are extracted from the earth,” while thanking all local and international parties who have sought to support a resolution.
Readiness and ongoing development
He concluded by affirming that “the Armed Forces are well and in constant development,” reiterating his appreciation for the support of Libya’s elders and notables, and pledging to continue the “struggle to build a safe, stable Libya, free of terrorism and extremism, where the banners of freedom fly across the land.”
