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| - More than a year ago, Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive to seize the capital Tripoli from the UN-recognised government. The latest chapter in Libya's nearly decade-long conflict has since killed hundreds and displaced over 200,000. Here is a recap. On April 4, 2019, Haftar orders his troops to advance on Tripoli, seat since 2016 of the Government of National Accord (GNA), which he claims is backed by "terrorist" groups. Haftar supports a parallel administration based in the eastern city of Tobruk and his forces already control the country's main oil fields in the south. The assault comes as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visits Libya in a bid to cement a political deal on holding elections. The next day, the Security Council calls on Haftar's forces to halt their advance. On April 7, Haftar's forces say they have carried out their first air strike on a suburb of Tripoli, where the GNA is based. The GNA announces it has launched a counteroffensive. On April 19, the White House says President Donald Trump recognised Haftar's "significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya's oil resources". Fighting intensifies the next day. In a blow to the ambitious strongman's campaign, on June 26 GNA forces retake the town of Gharyan, the main supply base for Haftar's forces southwest of the capital. In late July, UN envoy Ghassan Salame proposes a three-point plan: a truce, a high-level meeting of concerned countries, and intra-Libyan talks. On November 5, the New York Times reports that Russia has sent some 200 mercenaries to support Haftar. Moscow denies the claim. Ten days later, the United States urges Haftar to end his offensive. On November 27, Turkey and the GNA sign a military and security deal. A UN report on December 10 accuses several countries of breaching a 2011 arms embargo by supplying both camps. While Turkey and Qatar support the GNA, Haftar is backed by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, among others. On January 5, 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announces the deployment of Turkish soldiers to Libya, days after getting parliament's approval. Turkey and Russia broker a ceasefire that comes into effect on January 12 after months of fighting outside Tripoli. On January 13 in Moscow, GNA chief Fayez al-Sarraj signs the deal but Haftar leaves the next day without doing so. On January 18, forces allied with Haftar block oil exports from key Mediterranean terminals, paralysing Libya's main economic lifeline. The next day, at a summit in Berlin, world leaders commit to ending all foreign meddling and to upholding the 2011 weapons embargo. Ten days later, Salame decries repeated violations of the Berlin accords. On March 2, Salame announces his resignation, citing health reasons, saying he "tried to unite Libyans and restrain foreign interference". An expert report submitted to the UN Security Council on April 24 says 800 to 1,200 mercenaries from the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization, are fighting in Libya in support of Haftar, along with Syrian fighters from Damascus. On May 18, the unity government says its forces have seized the strategic Al-Watiya air base, 140 kilometres (90 miles) southwest of Tripoli, from groups backing Haftar. Haftar's forces have suffered several other setbacks in recent weeks, including the loss in April of two western coastal cities. acm/jmy/dwo
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