Khalifa Haftar

Khalifa Haftar (born November 7, 1943) is a Libyan military officer and politician. He is the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), a military faction that has been fighting to control Libya since 2014.

Early life and military career

Haftar was born in the city of Ajdabiya, Libya, in 1943. He joined the Libyan military in 1965 and fought in the Libyan Civil War of 1969, which resulted in the overthrow of King Idris I and the establishment of the Libyan Arab Republic. Haftar rose through the ranks of the military and eventually became a general.

Involvement in the Libyan Civil War

In 2011, Haftar defected from the Libyan military and joined the rebel forces that were fighting against the government of Muammar Gaddafi. He played a leading role in the capture of Tripoli, the Libyan capital, in August 2011.

After the fall of Gaddafi, Haftar was appointed chief of staff of the Libyan armed forces. However, he resigned from this position in 2014 after a dispute with the Libyan government.

In 2015, Haftar launched a military campaign against the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), which was the internationally recognized government of Libya. Haftar's forces captured large parts of Libya, including the city of Benghazi.

Current status

Haftar is currently the commander of the Libyan National Army, which is the dominant military force in Libya. He has been accused of human rights abuses and war crimes, and he is considered to be a threat to the stability of Libya.

Haftar has been a controversial figure throughout his career. He is seen by some as a strong leader who can bring stability to Libya, while others see him as a dangerous warlord who is a threat to democracy.

Celebrity status

Haftar has become a celebrity in some parts of the world, particularly among those who support his military campaign against the GNA. He has been featured in numerous news articles and television interviews, and he has been praised by some world leaders.

However, Haftar is also a controversial figure, and his celebrity status has been criticized by some. Some people believe that Haftar is a war criminal who should not be celebrated, while others believe that he is a necessary evil in the fight against terrorism.

English language

Haftar speaks English fluently. He has given numerous interviews to English-language media outlets, and he has been quoted extensively in English-language newspapers and magazines.