Haftar and Israel: Shedding Light on That Alliance- Africom's Agenda

* Haftar and Israel: From animosity to allianceWell, I don’t know about the animosity? Considering Haftar's intelligence background and ties. As best as can be understood, the alliance looks solid. Cairo as the intermediary makes perfect sense. There is a previous report on this alliance from January of this year- Dedicated to all the mis/disinformants, in my opinion, around the web

“For those who value the independence of Arab peoples - including the people of Northern Africa - Khalifa Haftar is not a figure to revere. His LNA forces have aligned themselves with a number of regional enemies of the Palestinian people and also the people of the wider region, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Israel and France. Using the airpower of both Egypt and the UAE as an integral part to play in Haftar’s plot to control Libya.”

There will be  an additional report at the end of this latest piece. Let's read from the opening link...

"Israel’s presence in Libya has escaped most publicitiy, but numerous media reports revealed that Tel Aviv secretly supports eastern Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar against the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.Israel views its support for Haftar as a tool to achieve its security interests. The self-proclaimed Jewish state, however, is keen to keep its relationship with Haftar a secret to avoid embarrassing him before the Arab and Islamic public opinions, particularly his Salafi and nationalist supporters in eastern Libya.However, this secrecy has been jeopardized when Israeli and Arab media exposed this relationship between Israel and the leader of the self-declared Libyan National Army (LNA).Haftar’s meetings with Mossad

In an opinion piece published by the London-based Middle East Eye, Israeli journalist Yossi Melman said members of Israeli intelligence service Mossad met with Haftar in Cairo several times between 2017 and 2019.

According to him, Mossad conducted a training for senior LNA officers in Egypt on military tactics, intelligence gathering and analysis, control and command procedures as well as helping them acquire night vision equipment and sniper rifles.On the other hand, Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli officers were in LNA-controlled areas between August and September 2019 to train Haftar’s militias on street warfare. The report added that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) supplied Haftar’s forces with Israeli missile defense systems to repel drone attacks by the GNA army.

However, French newspaper Monde d'Afrique said in a report earlier this month that Haftar’s relations with Israel go back to 2015 when the LNA leader met Mossad officers in Jordan. The report revealed that Israeli Air Force supported Haftar in bombing the city of Sirte, which lies 450 km east of Tripoli, without stating the date and the target of the shelling.

Alliance with enemy

Supporters of Haftar often praise him for his disputable participation in the 1973 war between Egypt and Israel when he was still a young officer in the Libyan army. Irrespective of the authenticity of those claims, Haftar is now colluding with his former enemies to gain their support for achieving his goal of ruling Libya.

Despite their high ranks, Haftar's officers lack professionalism and training, particularly in terms of planning and urban warfare, which Israel is willing to offer. More importantly, Haftar is in need of Israeli air defense systems to counter Turkish drones in Libya that have played an essential role in their defeat in the southern neighborhoods of the capital Tripoli, and their subsequent loss of the strategic Al-Watiya airbase among other areas to the GNA.Moreover, Haftar seeks the influence of the Jewish lobby in the US to influence decision-makers in the White House to side with LNA.

Last month, in an interview with the Israel-based Makor Rishon daily, Abdul Salam al-Badri, deputy prime minister of eastern Libya-based government sought to win the support of Israel. Addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the pro-Haftar official said they “have never and will never be enemies with Tel Aviv”, adding that they hoped for immediate Israeli support.

Al-Badri went on as far as to invite Israel to join a new political initiative with Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and Lebanon to reach a joint maritime agreement to challenge the agreement signed between Turkey and the Tripoli-based GNA.

These remarks caused an uproar among many Libyans, prompting al-Badri to deny the news.Why does Israel support Haftar?

Israel’s national security concerns are the main drive for its support for Haftar. Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, there have been reports that weapons arriving from Libya were smuggled into the Gaza Strip through Egypt, something that caused grave security concerns for Israel. In addition, Tripoli was also a security concern for Tel Aviv during the early period of the Gaddafi era as well as the onset of the Arab Spring in the country in February 2011.Haftar’s rise in Libya’s political theatre in 2014 and his subsequent takeover of the eastern parts of Libya therefore presented an opportunity for Israel to create a buffer against the transfer of weapons from Libya to Gaza as well having a “friendly” government in Libya by forming an alliance with the new political actor.

Moreover, the oil-rich Libya could present a new market for the Israeli industry whose arms exports are an important economic income.

Will Haftar abandon Palestine?

Israel has sought an alliance with the UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to counter common threats from Iran and Islamist groups. Since Haftar shares the same concerns with Israel on these matters, his relations with Tel Aviv are expected to get stronger.Israel adopts the policy of "the friend of my friend is my friend", and "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." In this context, the Israeli involvement in Libya is likely to increase albeit secretly.

Israel alarmed by Turkish role in Libya

The victories by the GNA and Turkey against Haftar’s militias have worried Israel, which believes that these victories will strengthen the position of Ankara and the GNA in the region regarding the hydrocarbon fields in Eastern Mediterranean.Turkey and the GNA have previously signed an agreement to demarcate the maritime borders which Israel argues does not correspond to its "interests".By forging closer relations with Israel, Haftar may anger other countries hostile to Tel Aviv in the region, such as Algeria and Tunisia, as well as Arab nationalists in countries that currently support Haftar.

To avoid irritating Haftar’s support base in the region, Israel’s engagement with Haftar is conducted behind the scenes and in coordination with Cairo.

In case you missed the news- Uber zionist BHL was back in Libya- That is Bernard Henri Levy. Reprising his destructive role, undoubtedlyLibya's Presidential Council to probe Bernard Levy's visit

The Presidential Council said the committee will investigate how Levy entered Libya via Misrata Airport, saying the probe will include interrogation of director general of the airport and its security and passports' director, in addition to internal security apparatus and the intelligence department.

I see he’s wearing less “flowery” shirts these days.

It called for the investigation results to be delivered after five days starting July 29.The French writer, Bernard Levy, arrived Saturday in Libya on a private jet on an unannounced visit, whose purpose was considered mysterious by many Libyans amid France's support for Khalifa Haftar against the legitimate Government of National Accord.Meanwhile, the GNA’s Presidential Council said it had no knowledge of the visit of Bernard Levy to Libya, vowing to investigate the details of the visit and bring those behind it to justice for violations of state laws and legitimacy of the GNA.Levy said he had obtained his entry visa to Libya via the newspaper he works for not through the Interior Ministry of Libya.

So media outlets can obtain entry visas without going through the Interior Ministry? Wow. Also related: Jerusalem Post Middle East Is US Africa Command hoping for a bigger role in Libya?You bet it is!

US Africa Command has not only been the most recent addition to America’s method of dividing the world into various areas of responsibility for military operations, but also one of the least well-knownAFRICOM IS responsible for dealing with all of Africa – except Egypt, which is linked to CENTCOM. Why might AFRICOM be hyping Russia’s involvement in Libya? There are already numerous US operations in Africa, not least of which are the special operations and drone bases from which Washington operates to hunt terrorists from Niger to Somalia. Since 2019, the US has been re-assessing its role in Africa. Although US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has denied that America is “withdrawing” from Africa, the reality is that the US wants to reduce its footprint.Pointing out increased Russian involvement in Libya gives AFRICOM something to do. It also dovetails with the State Department’s attempt to frustrate Moscow's ambitions in the region.

How many times has Russia's level  of involvement in Libya been questioned here? More then a few times certainly. Including these repeated claims about Wagner mercenaries being paid for by Russia. Based on very little, if I may say non existent, solid information?Perhaps we need to consider the claims might just be US disinfo? Deployed liberally to justify US activities in Libya? That has to be considered and certainly the article linked above is suggesting AFRICOM may be hyping Russian involvement in Libya.

“... for AFRICOM, monitoring Russia’s role in Libya – basically in its own area of operations back yard – is a new mission and gives the command a way to emphasize its role. “       

From earlier today

Syria: Russian/US Troops Collide, Pipelines Explode and more- Birth Pangs