Khalifa Haftar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Field Marshal
Khalifa Haftar
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خليفة حفتر
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Haftar in 2023
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| Supreme Commander of the Libyan National Army | |
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Incumbent
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| Assumed office 2 March 2015 |
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| President | Aguila Saleh Issa (acting) Mohamed al-Menfi |
| Prime Minister | Abdullah al-Thani Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh |
| Personal details | |
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Khalifa Belqasim Omar Haftar
7 November 1943 Ajdabiya, Libya |
| Citizenship | Libya United States |
| Children | 6, including Saddam |
| Awards | Red diploma (high honours) – M.V. Frunze Military Academy |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
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| Branch/service |  Libyan National Army |
| Years of service | 1966–1987; 2011–present |
| Rank |  Field Marshal |
| Commands | Libyan National Army |
| Battles |
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Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Omar Haftar (born 7 November 1943) is a military officer and politician from Libya. He is the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), a powerful military group based in Tobruk. In 2015, he became the commander of the armed forces that support the Libyan House of Representatives.
Haftar was born in Ajdabiya, Libya. He served in the Libyan Army under Muammar Gaddafi. He helped Gaddafi come to power in a coup in 1969. He also fought against Israel in the Yom Kippur War of 1973. In 1987, he was captured during a war against Chad. This was a big problem for Gaddafi. While a prisoner, Haftar and other officers planned to overthrow Gaddafi.
Around 1990, he was released and moved to the United States. He lived there for almost 20 years and became a U.S. citizen. In 1993, while in the U.S., he was sentenced to death in Libya for crimes against Gaddafi's government.
Haftar played an important role in the First Libyan Civil War in 2011, which led to Gaddafi's overthrow. In 2014, he started a campaign against a group called the General National Congress (GNC) and its allies. This led to the Second Libyan Civil War. Haftar has been called a strong military leader in Libya. He has fought in many of Libya's conflicts. In November 2021, he announced he would run for president in the election, which was later delayed. He speaks Arabic, English, Italian, and Russian. He is a citizen of both Libya and the United States.
Contents
Early Life and School
Khalifa Haftar was born in Ajdabiya, Libya. He belongs to the al-Farjani tribe. He went to al-Huda School in Ajdabiya in 1957. Later, he moved to Derna for his high school education from 1961 to 1964.
He joined the Benghazi Military University Academy in 1964 and finished his studies there in 1966. In the late 1970s, he went to the Soviet Union for more military training. He earned a special three-year degree for foreign officers at the M. V. Frunze Military Academy. Haftar also trained further in Egypt. He was part of the artillery forces.
Early Years in Gaddafi's Government
As a young army officer, Haftar helped Muammar Gaddafi take power in 1969. They overthrew King Idris of Libya. Soon after, Haftar became a top military officer for Gaddafi. He led Libyan troops who supported Egyptian forces in the Yom Kippur War in 1973.
Haftar was a secularist and a Nasserist. He was a member of the Libyan Revolutionary Command Council. This council governed Libya right after the coup. Haftar later became Gaddafi's military chief of staff. In the late 1980s, he commanded Libyan forces during the Chadian–Libyan conflict. This war ended in a defeat for Libya.
War with Chad and Capture
By 1986, Haftar was a colonel. He was the main officer in charge of Gaddafi's military forces in Chad. This was during the Chadian–Libyan conflict. In 1987, Haftar and about 600-700 of his soldiers were captured. They became prisoners of war after their defeat in the Ouadi Doum airstrike.
After this big loss, Gaddafi disowned Haftar and the other Libyan prisoners. One reason might be that Gaddafi had agreed to remove all Libyan forces from Chad. Haftar's actions went against this agreement. Another reason could be that Gaddafi feared Haftar might return to Libya as a hero and threaten his rule.
Living in the United States
Gaddafi wanted Haftar's soldiers returned to Libya. But the Americans arranged for them to fly to Zaire instead. There, some soldiers went back to Libya. In late 1987, Haftar and other officers joined the National Front for the Salvation of Libya (NFSL). This was an opposition group supported by the U.S.
On June 21, 1988, Haftar announced the NFSL's military branch, the Libyan National Army, under his command. When Zaire stopped getting U.S. money, they sent the remaining soldiers to Kenya. Kenya only offered a short stay. So, the CIA helped Haftar and 300 of his soldiers move to the United States around 1990. The end of the Cold War meant less U.S. funding for Haftar's group.
In March 1996, Haftar took part in an uprising against Gaddafi in eastern Libya. It failed, and he returned to the U.S. Haftar lived near Washington, D.C., in Falls Church, Virginia, until 2007. Then he moved to Vienna, Virginia. From there, he supported efforts to remove Gaddafi. In U.S. legal papers, he spelled his name "Hifter."
Role in the First Libyan Civil War
In 2011, Haftar returned to Libya when the Libyan Crisis began. He supported the forces that were against Gaddafi in the First Libyan Civil War. In March, a military spokesperson said Haftar was appointed commander of the military. However, the National Transitional Council denied this.
By April, Abdul Fatah Younis was the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. Omar El-Hariri was his chief of staff. Haftar held the third most important position as commander of ground forces. He had the rank of lieutenant general. Younis was killed later that summer. On November 17, 2011, Haftar was chosen as the overall commander of the new Libyan Army. This was because of his military experience and his loyalty to the revolution.
Starting Operation Dignity
In February 2014, Haftar appeared on TV. He announced that the General National Congress (GNC) had been dissolved. The GNC was the elected parliament that had extended its term. Haftar called for a temporary government to hold new elections. He urged Libyans to rise up against the GNC. However, his call did not lead to a big uprising. He lacked resources and local support. The acting Prime Minister Ali Zeidan quickly dismissed his announcement. Haftar's actions were called a "coup attempt."
Haftar secretly built an army. He held meetings across Libya with former military officers. Three months later, on May 16, he launched "Operation Dignity." This was an air and ground attack against pro-Islamic groups in Benghazi. He also attacked the Libyan parliament. Haftar knew his actions were risky. On May 20, the GNC announced that national elections would be held on June 25, 2014. These elections would replace the GNC with the Tobruk-based House of Representatives.
Later in May, Ali Zeidan, who had been removed from office, supported Operation Dignity. So did 40 members of parliament and leaders of the navy and air force. Haftar's forces in eastern Libya seemed to gain support. Many marches for Operation Dignity took place in May and June. In the June 25 elections, secular groups won more power than Islamist groups. The new parliament called Haftar's enemies "terrorists."
On November 24 and 25, 2014, warplanes linked to Operation Dignity attacked Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli. This temporarily closed the airport and damaged nearby homes. A court in Tripoli then issued an arrest warrant for Khalifa Haftar.
Leading the Second Libyan Civil War
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On March 2, 2015, the House of Representatives officially made Haftar the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA). Later that year, the Libyan armed forces split. The LNA, led by Haftar, was often supported by Russia and the Wagner Group. The Libyan Army was controlled by the Government of National Accord (GNA).
After three years of fighting, Haftar announced in July 2017 that his forces had taken control of Benghazi. This was Libya's second-largest city. Many saw this victory as a sign of his growing power. Some critics said he fought for years to gain military control and a future political role.
Some people praised Haftar for fighting against ISIS. However, others said his role was exaggerated or self-serving. For example, in early 2016, Haftar's forces reportedly bombed an Islamist group that had already removed ISIS from Derna.
Experts wondered if the LNA could control all of Libya. They also questioned if Haftar would allow other leaders to guide a national army or government. Haftar believes Operation Dignity should remove the Libyan branch of the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups. But in recent years, he has worked with Salafi groups in eastern Libya. This partnership helps both sides. Haftar needs their support because he lacks troops. His Salafi allies gain control over religious discussions and military strength.
In July 2017, a video showed Haftar's forces executing suspected ISIS fighters. The United Nations called for an investigation into these killings. Many areas under his control have reported abuses by his forces. They also reported actions that limit people's freedoms.
As of August 2016, Haftar refused to support the new United Nations Security Council-backed Government of National Accord. This made the U.S. and its allies believe he was harming Libya's stability. Some experts think Haftar is a major obstacle to peace in Libya. They believe he fears losing his influence if he cooperates with the GNA.
The United Arab Emirates and Egypt continue to support Haftar. Reports suggest that British, French, U.S., and UAE air forces have helped Haftar's forces. Egypt's Sisi openly supports Haftar. Leaders from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also privately support his attack on Tripoli.
In November 2016, Haftar visited Russia again. He met with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu. He was seeking weapons and Russia's support. Russia later said Haftar should have a role in Libya's leadership.
Under the control of the Tobruk-led Government and Libyan National Army Under the control of the internationally-recognized government of Libya
Russia has treated wounded LNA soldiers. They have also printed Libyan money for the Tobruk government. Russia has signed agreements to build two more military bases in eastern Libya. Experts believe Russia sees Haftar as the only strong force against extremism in Libya.
In 2017, Haftar was accused of war crimes during the recapture of Derna. It was claimed that he ordered his fighters not to take prisoners. He reportedly said, "There is no prison here. The field is the field, end of the story."
On November 5, 2017, a former commander and spokesperson for Operation Dignity, Mohammed Hijazi, called Haftar "the main cause of the crisis." Hijazi left Operation Dignity in January 2016. He has since spoken out against Haftar, calling him a "tyrant." He described Haftar's "killings, kidnappings, destruction, and forced disappearances." Hijazi claims Haftar is purposely delaying the war in Benghazi. He also said his life is in danger because he has documents that could harm Operation Dignity leaders.
On April 4, 2019, Haftar ordered his forces to advance on Tripoli. This is the capital of Libya's internationally recognized government. The United Nations Secretary General and the Security Council criticized this action. On April 7, eastern Libyan forces launched an airstrike on a military compound in southern Tripoli. On April 21, Haftar launched more airstrikes over Tripoli. The GNA and witnesses said drones were used.
In May 2019, Amnesty International accused Haftar of actions that might be war crimes during his fight for Tripoli. After military setbacks in June 2019, Haftar ordered the LNA to target Turkish ships and companies. He also banned flights and ordered the arrest of Turkish citizens in Libya. After these threats, six Turkish civilians were kidnapped by the Libyan National Army on July 1. Turkey demanded their immediate release.
In November 2019, the United Arab Emirates was accused of a drone strike that killed 8 civilians and wounded 27. The strike hit a food factory in Wadi al-Rabie, south of Tripoli. In August 2020, new evidence suggested the UAE was involved in a drone strike in January 2020. This strike killed 26 unarmed cadets at a military academy in Tripoli. The missiles were fired by a drone supplied by the UAE.
Haftar's Influence in Government
Haftar was the leader of the "Tobruk" government. This government controlled much of eastern and some southern and western parts of Libya during the Second Libyan Civil War. The 2019 local elections were stopped in Sabratha and Sorman under his leadership. The head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) described Haftar in April 2019 as "not a great democrat." He also said Haftar governs "with an iron fist." During Haftar's rule, nine out of 27 local councils under LNA control were replaced by military leaders.
In June 2019, the Government of National Accord found weapons in a rebel area. These included Javelin anti-tank missiles made by the U.S. and marked for the "armed forces of the United Arab Emirates." These missiles were found in a rebel base, supporting Haftar's army.
On April 27, 2020, Haftar said on TV that the LNA would accept popular support to govern Eastern Libya. This made Haftar the unofficial leader. His announcement raised questions about the role of the Libyan House of Representatives. Until then, it was the civilian government for areas controlled by the LNA.
In April 2021, a group called the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) launched an attack to take over Chad. This group is based in Haftar's areas and has an agreement with him. The attack failed, and Chad's president, Idris Déby, was killed.
On September 23, 2021, Haftar temporarily left his command of the LNA. This was for a possible run in the 2021 Libyan general election, which was planned for December 23. Libyan law says officials must stop their current work three months before an election. The election has been delayed.
Three lawsuits have been filed against Haftar in U.S. federal court. These lawsuits accuse him of war crimes, torture, and other human rights violations. One lawsuit was brought by victims' families in 2019. They claim Haftar committed war crimes, including killing civilians, during his military campaign. This campaign was supported by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Russia. The lawsuit is based on the Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991. A judge rejected Haftar's request to dismiss the lawsuit in 2020.
Khalifa Haftar has also been called a "Libyan oil magnate" by the international press. The Libyan National Army under his leadership has controlled the oil terminals of Ras Lanuf and Es Sider since 2015. It is believed that Haftar's forces have protected Libya's crude oil production. This was sometimes done through forceful and illegal methods. His personal income is estimated to be very high, which helps him maintain his power.
Family and Future Leadership
Haftar has at least six sons and one daughter. Captain Saddam Haftar and Captain Khalid Haftar are officers in the Libyan National Army. They lead two brigades, including the 106th Brigade. This brigade was accused of kidnapping Seham Sergiwa in 2019. Another son, Al-Sadiq Haftar, is also in Libya. Belqasim Haftar is his father's main political advisor. Two other sons, Uqba Haftar and Al-Muntasir Haftar, and his daughter Asma Haftar live in Virginia in the United States.
In October 2021, a newspaper reported that Belqasim Haftar signed a contract with an Israeli consulting firm. This was to manage his father's presidential campaign. In November 2021, Saddam Haftar secretly visited Israel. He was reportedly seeking military aid and diplomatic help for his father. In return, they might normalize relations. Khalifa Haftar reportedly had contacts with Mossad before Saddam's visit. Later that month, Saddam Haftar reportedly promised safety to Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Bashir Saleh Bashir. This was so they could register as presidential candidates in Sabha. However, ten days later, Saddam and Khalid's brigade stormed the courthouse in Sabha. They stopped judges from hearing Saif al-Islam Gaddafi's appeal to run in the election.
Starting in March 2022, Uqba Haftar began selling the Haftar family's properties in the United States. This happened after a U.S. judge ruled that Khalifa could be sued for war crimes. Uqba reportedly received an offer from the United Arab Emirates to move there.
In December 2022, Saddam Haftar tried to take control of banks in Cyrenaica. Later that month, Saddam Haftar's Tariq Ben Zeyad Brigade was accused of committing war crimes by Amnesty International.
In January 2023, Khalifa Haftar said he would withdraw from the Libyan presidential election. This was on the condition that his sons, Saddam and Belqasim, could run. Saddam Haftar is seen as Khalifa Haftar's likely successor.
Health Concerns
On April 12, 2018, it was reported that Haftar was in a coma after having a stroke. He was in intensive care in Paris. A spokesperson for the LNA first denied these reports. Local media later said he had died. However, sources close to him insisted he was alive. On April 25, it was confirmed that Haftar was alive. He had returned to Benghazi after getting treatment in Paris.
Images for kids
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Khalifa Haftar's signature
See also
In Spanish: Jalifa Hafter para niños
