Though jubilant celebrations were expected on February 18, the seventh anniversary of the Libyan revolution, the events that did take place in the country were noticeably subdued.

This was in part due to a rumour that a major rift had occurred between Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar and the much respected SF Commander General Wanis Bukhamada.

The rumour was that Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) was at odds with the Special Forces (SF, or locally known as Saiqa).

The fact is these rumours were just that; maliciously triggered by persons unknown following events surrounding two bombings in now LNA liberated Benghazi. Exaggerated and distorted rumours by those who want to falsely present discord amongst the Libyan Armed Forces.

As the old adage says a photo speaks a thousand words, and two photos on the army website show that there is harmony among all the military leadership.

In a display of unity, the pictures evidence the camaraderie of all the military with Major General Wanis Bukhamada and his senior SF staff officers standing side by side with Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar.

As earlier explained, Benghazi experienced the worst bombings in Libya in recent years that occurred at the end of January with another in early February that caused over 50 innocent civilians lives including a handful of LNA personnel, as well as wounding many more.

From a counterterrorism perspective, the Benghazi bombings are significant as these relate to new Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP’s) that are imported by terrorists with experience from Iraq and Syria in particular.

In the January incident, the first blast was at a mosque in Benghazi. The second blast went off half an hour later while residents and paramedics tried to evacuate the injured.

People were leaving evening prayers when the explosions hit the Bait Radwan mosque.

At the same time, Turkey and Qatar Muslim Brotherhood media described the attacks in Benghazi as a military “operation” against Haftar’s LNA forces. What business is it of theirs to even comment one might ask?

It is clear now that only Russia or the US, preferably in unison, can be the ones to truly solve the Libyan crisis

The LNA quickly captured the terrorists and were swift in carrying out summary executions, which for Libyans, now totally fed up of seven years of terrorism, was deemed the correct response. Justice was done and seen to be done.

In fact a large crowd of onlookers cheered as the executions took place. The liberal international community was more outraged that summary justice was dished out to six or so terrorists than sorrow over the scores of victims they killed and seriously wounded.

The fact is the Libyan people are fed up of years of UNSMIL lies and impotency, nevertheless the UN promptly issued the strongest condemnation of the Special Forces and the LNA. Further ‘demanding’ the LNA and SF hand over to the ICC the LNA and SF soldiers involved in the executions. Something that I predict will never be allowed to happen by Libya or the Libyan people.

Politically and militarily, simply put, Turkey and Qatar are at odds with Saudi; each travelling on a collision course with their two differing Sunni schools of thought. These parties in essence are bringing their religious disagreements to the Libyan theatre - also both Turkey and Qatar wish to destroy Haftar’s reputation, by using particularly Qatar’s  media experience and networks to get the international community to accuse Haftar, the LNA and SF of war crimes.

Their fear being Haftar could become another Sisi; very anti-Muslim Brotherhood.

Remember Qatar and Turkey are the only two countries on earth dominated by Muslim Brotherhood regimes.

Also many believe the UN seek to discredit Haftar and the army in order for their chosen man, a so-called Prime Minister based between Tripoli and Tunisia, Fayez Serraj, to prevail. The inference for Libyans being that UNSMIL is pro-Brotherhood.

These above reasons in the most part are the cause of the Libyan quagmire.

It is clear now that only Russia or the US, preferably in unison, and not in coordination with the UN or the rest of Europe, can be the ones to truly solve the Libyan crisis.

Libya’s neighbours remain important also, mainly Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia.

UNSMIL, the UK and Europe’s plans are dead; they have proven only to exacerbate Libya’s domestic problems for the last seven years.

Richard Galustian is a political and security advisor based in MENA countries for nearly 40 years.

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