Khalifa Haftar said in a recorded speech last Thursday that his forces were ready to issue “bold decisions and strict orders” to “confront everything that would tamper with the fate of the country,” stressing that the course of the political process “has been given more opportunities than necessary.”
In his speech while attending military maneuvers launched by his leadership in Sirte, Haftar indicated that his forces didn't distinguish between east and west and the army was for all of Libya and would always remain biased to the will of the people.
"The army is ready at all times to take the necessary measures without anyone’s permission to ensure the safety of the nation and maintain the stability of the country." Haftar remarked.
Haftar said that the country's safety "depends on achieving a breakthrough in the political track," adding that "some of the parties involved in politics deliberately created obstacles and flimsy arguments to remain in a stalemate and for the situation to continue as it is in order to preserve their own gains."
"We see that this path has been given more opportunities than it should have, without any solutions appearing on the horizon that herald consensual agreements that would end in a just peace settlement and move toward achieving political stability. Hence, we give good news to the obstructionists and the spoilers that they won't succeed, that the scope for granting opportunities has become narrow, that patience is nearing an end, and that they must reconsider their strategies before events surprise them with what they do not desire or expect." Haftar explained.
He said that his forces have reached “a high level of development and readiness and have regained preparedness again,” adding that his forces “are sending a message today that they are ready and that won't hesitate to issue bold decisions and strict orders to confront with the utmost strength anyone that would tamper with the fate of the people and the country."
Footage published by local media revealed the moment “a number of Russian T72 tanks arrived at the headquarters of the Tariq bin Ziyad Brigade affiliated with Saddam Haftar via the port of Tobruk coming from Russia, while it was announced on February 28 that Saddam, Haftar’s son, was supervising "Training exercises for a mobilization project for ground forces with live ammunition in the city of Sirte, in the center of northern Libya."
