...Self-proclaimed Field Marshal, served in the Libyan army under Muammar Qadaffy, and took part in the coup that brought Qadaffy to power in 1969. He became a prisoner of war in Chad in 1987. While held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Qadaffy. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades in the United States, gaining US citizenship. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia of crimes against the Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Haftar held a senior position in the anti-Qadaffy forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War. In 2014 he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC, but then developed into a civil war. Guess you can't win them all...arrived on Thursday from Cairo at Benina International Airport, east of Benghazi, amid popular and official celebrations after receiving treatment for three weeks in Gay Paree.
Earlier in the day, delegations of prominent figures, elders and sheikhs of the Eastern Province as well as members of the House of Representatives and civil society organizations came to Benghazi to participate in the reception ceremony of Haftar, who had received treatment in La Belle France amid "rumors" that he had died.
Popular celebrations began from Wednesday night and took place in the eastern Libyan cities. Crowds were arriving in the squares and hoisting banners and posters of the Marshal, who held talks in Cairo with Egyptian officials before traveling to his country.
During his visit to Egypt, Haftar discussed the relations between Egypt and Libya and the latest developments in his country.
On April 14, a "rumor" was spread about the death of Haftar in a hospital in Gay Paree, causing confusion in Libyan and Arab circles.
The citizens of eastern Libya highly appreciate Haftar, but he has been considered an obstacle to the "Islamists", especially in the west of the country, since his return from exile in the United States following the outbreak of the revolution of February 17, 2011.
Member of the House of Representatives Dr. Mohammed Amer al-Abbani told Asharq al-Awsat that "the return of the commander-in-chief in good health, proves that he is a man of strategies and does not get carried away by rumors."