UN warns of military escalation in Libya

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is concerned about a possible major armed showdown in Libya, and is urging rival factions to turn to dialogue, as forces from the east of the country move towards Tripoli


April 3-4: Forces loyal to Khalifa Hifter (right) capture town of Gharyan without major clashes.
Any further advance by his forces on Tripoli – controlled by weak UN-backed government and aligned militias – could spark major confrontation


Approximate areas of control (as of April 3, 2019)
Tobruk-based government backed by Hifter’s Libyan National Army (LNA)
UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) 
Other factions

TUNISIA
Zintan
ALGERIA
Ghat
Tripoli
LNA advance
Ubari
Sabha
LIBYA
Qatrun
Mediterranean Sea
Misurata
Sirte
Benghazi
Bayda 
Tobruk
Ajdabiya
Oil and gas fields and pipelines
SAHARA DESERT
NIGER
CHAD
EGYPT

300km  185 miles


Sources: Associated Press, South Front 
Picture: Getty Images 
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