‘France isolated and in a difficult position after Haftar’s defeat’

France has played a critical role in the rise of warlord Khalifa Haftar in Libya.

The Independent reported taht France finds itself isolated and in a difficult position after Haftar’s defeat.

“Swallowing France’s line that Paris was fighting ‘terrorism’ by supporting strongman Haftar against the ‘Islamists’ in Tripoli, some within the French foreign ministry and security apparatuses are reportedly beginning to push back” following his defeat in Libya, said an article written by international correspondent Borzou Daragahi.

Libya has been torn by civil war since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The country’s new government was founded in 2015 under a UN-led agreement, but efforts for a long-term political settlement failed due to a military offensive by Haftar’s forces.

The story also quoted a ranking official familiar with France’s Libya policy who spoke on condition of anonymity as saying that France’s backing of Haftar was provided for “the sake of anti-terrorism, a tactical choice to eliminate some of the [extremist] groups.”

Its tactical choice turned into a strategy based on the belief that “tough guys are the right protection against terrorism, which they never are,” the official said.