...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, so it's kind of hard to describe him as a Qadaffy holdover. 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...
's forces have announced "Zero Hour" to launch an all-out offensive on Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
and try once again to enter the capital, but the forces have been met with fierce defense by the Libyan Army forces under the command of Presidential Council's government.
Frontlines saw the "Zero Hour" festivities start at 9.00am in the morning on Monday with Haftar's forces attacking - with air cover - Libyan Army positions on four frontlines, concentrating on Khallit al-Furjan since it's the closest to Tripoli's city center.
"We have foiled the attack of Haftar's forces and gained advanced positions in certain frontlines as our Air Force had carried out
...KABOOM!...
s on the attacking forces, causing them heavy losses." Libyan Army and Burkan al-Ghadab (Volcano of Rage) operation said.
They said three military vehicles were destroyed as Libyan Air Force targeted two tanks on al-Naher frontline, let alone seizing two military vehicles and capturing 11 mercenaries fighting for Haftar's forces.
Uneasy calm has descended on fighting frontlines after the Zero Hour offensive was repelled, while Haftar's media outlets said the general command put off the Zero Hour offensive due to a malfunction in the communications system.
For over a week, the Zero Hour has been the talk of all Haftar's forces, including his front man Ahmed al-Mismari, who said in a presser that their plan included protecting state institutions and diplomatic missions in Tripoli.
The front man for the Libyan Army Mohammed Gununu commented on al-Mismari's statement saying; "it is just a media propaganda that aims at putting down Libyan Army forces' morale."
Before the Zero Hour, Haftar appointed on Sunday Mabrouk al-Ghazwi as the commander of Tripoli offensive in place of Abdelsalam al-Hassi, who is said to be detained in Rajma.