{"id":35080,"date":"2019-04-07T15:10:53","date_gmt":"2019-04-07T15:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/04\/07\/us-withdraws-troops-from-libya-amid-rival-militias-fighting-near-capital\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:35:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:35:40","slug":"us-withdraws-troops-from-libya-amid-rival-militias-fighting-near-capital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/04\/07\/us-withdraws-troops-from-libya-amid-rival-militias-fighting-near-capital\/","title":{"rendered":"US withdraws troops from Libya amid rival militias fighting near capital"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BENGHAZI, Libya \u2014 The United States said Sunday it has temporarily withdrawn some of its forces from Libya due to \u201csecurity conditions on the ground,\u201d as a Libyan military commander\u2019s forces advanced toward the capital, Tripoli, clashing with rival militias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A small contingent of American troops has been in Libya in recent years helping local forces <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2018\/06\/15\/terrorist-killed-in-second-us-airstrike-this-year-on-al-qaida-in-libya-officials-say\/\" target=_blank>combat Islamic State<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2019\/02\/14\/us-and-libyan-forces-jointly-strike-al-qaida-militants\/\" target=_blank>al-Qaida militants<\/a>, as well as protecting diplomatic facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;The security realities on the ground in Libya are growing increasingly complex and unpredictable,&#8221; said Marine Corps Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, the head of U.S. Africa Command. &#8220;Even with an adjustment of the force, we will continue to remain agile in support of existing U.S. strategy.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2018\/04\/23\/isis-al-qaida-regrouping-in-libya-whats-us-strategy-congress-asks\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635761958201982879-gettyimages-483995224jpg.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">ISIS, al-Qaida \u2018regrouping\u2019 in Libya, what\u2019s US strategy? Congress asks<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Lawmakers ask experts what the Trump administration&#039;s strategy is for the war-torn country.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He did not provide details on the number of U.S. troops that have been withdrawn or on how many remain inside the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Footage circulating online showed two apparent U.S. Navy transport craft maneuvering off a beach in Janzour, east of Tripoli, sending up plumes of spray as American forces were ferried from the shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">India also evacuated a small contingent of peacekeepers. The Indian foreign minister, Sushma Swaraj, said the country\u2019s 15 Central Reserve Police Force peacekeepers were evacuated Saturday from Tripoli because the \u201csituation in Libya has suddenly worsened\u201d and fighting has moved into the capital city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe will continue to monitor conditions on the ground in Libya,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/opinion\/commentary\/2019\/03\/23\/africa-a-continent-where-partnership-is-in-demand\/\" target=_blank>Col. Chris Karns, USAFRICOM\u2019s director of public affairs<\/a>, told Military Times in an email. &#8220;U.S. Africa Command continually assesses the disposition of its forces in Libya. Broad support to counter-terrorism activities represents various capabilities, to include airpower and other options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe still have capability to limit ISIS-Libya\u2019s freedom of movement, constrain its ability to reinforce its fighters, and degrade its command and control,\u201d he said. \u201cThe U.S. has demonstrated a resolve toward degrading and disrupting ISIS and other terror groups. U.S. Africa Command conducted six air strikes in 2018 against terrorist organizations in Libya.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1094804684.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38612\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1094804684.jpg.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1094804684.jpg.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1094804684.jpg.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1094804684.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An image grab taken from a video from AFPTV, on Feb. 6, 2019, shows forces loyal to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar patrolling in downtown Sebha, the biggest city in southern Libya. (AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The self-styled Libyan National Army, led by Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter, launched a surprise offensive against the capital last week, a move that could potentially drag the country back into civil war. Libya has been gripped by unrest since the 2011 uprising that overthrew and killed long-ruling dictator Moammar Gadhafi, and in recent years has been governed by rival authorities in the east and in Tripoli, in the west, each backed by various armed groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fayez Sarraj, head of government in Tripoli, accused Hifter of &#8220;betraying&#8221; him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe have extended our hands towards peace, but after the aggression that has taken place on the part of forces belonging to Hifter and his declaration of war against our cities and our capital &#8230; he will find nothing but strength and firmness,\u201d al-Sarraj said Saturday in televised comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2019\/02\/20\/understaffed-africom-cutting-hundreds-more-troops\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4305336.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Understaffed AFRICOM cutting hundreds more troops<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">600 troops total will be cut; AFRICOM hopes to spare ISR, medevac.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sarraj and Hifter held talks in Abu Dhabi in late February, their first confirmed meeting since November 2018, when they agreed that national elections were necessary, according to the U.N.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hifter is seeking to capture the capital and seize military control of the whole country before U.N.-sponsored talks due to start next week that were designed to set a time frame for possible elections in the oil-rich country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The U.N. envoy for Libya, Ghassan Salame, said the U.N. is determined to hold the planned conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Libyan factions to return to negotiations, saying that \u201cthere is no military solution to the Libya conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe have made clear that we oppose the military offensive by Khalifa Haftar\u2019s forces and urge the immediate halt to these military operations against the Libyan capital,\u201d Pompeo said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fighting was underway Sunday at the international airport, some 24 kilometers (15 miles) from central Tripoli, after Hifter claimed to have seized the area. The airport was destroyed in a previous bout of militia fighting in 2014. Hifter said his forces had launched airstrikes targeting rival militias on the outskirts of Tripoli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rival militias, which are affiliated with a U.N.-backed government in Tripoli, said they had also carried out airstrikes, slowing Hifter&#8217;s advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1134882648.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38613\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1134882648.jpg.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1134882648.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1134882648.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1134882648.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Brig. Ahmed al-Mesmari, spokesman of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army loyal to Khalifa Haftar, addresses the press in his office in Benghazi on April 4, 2019, after declaring preparations were almost complete &#8220;to purge the west&#8221; of Libya &#8220;of terrorists and mercenaries&#8221;. (Abdullah Doma\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Armed groups behind the U.N.-backed government of national accord, or GNA, have announced an effort to defend Tripoli, vowing to recapture all areas seized by Hifter&#8217;s forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Col. Mohamed Gnounou, a spokesman for GNA forces, said in televised comments Sunday that the counteroffensive, dubbed &#8220;Volcano of Anger,&#8221; was aimed at &#8220;purging all Libyan cities of aggressor and illegitimate forces.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two sides reported that at least 35 people, including civilians, had been killed since Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Interior Ministry of the Tripoli-based government said in a statement that at least nine people, including a physician, were killed. It said at least 55 fighters and a civilian were wounded. Ahmed al-Mesmari, spokesman for Hifter&#8217;s forces, said Saturday that 14 troops had been killed since the offensive began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fighting has displaced hundreds of people, the U.N. migration agency said. The U.N. mission to Libya has called for a two-hour cease-fire on Sunday in parts of Tripoli to evacuate civilians and wounded people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The LNA is supported by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, France and Russia. It answers to the authorities based in eastern Libya, who are at odds with the U.N.-backed government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Magdy reported from Cairo.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The United States said Sunday it has temporarily withdrawn some of its forces from Libya due to \u201csecurity conditions on the ground,\u201d as a Libyan military commander\u2019s forces advanced toward the capital, Tripoli, clashing with rival militias.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":38609,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":10,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"4":{"categories":["flashpoints","your-air-force","news","daily-news-roundup","newsletters","home","left-column"],"primary_category":"your-air-force"},"5":{"categories":["flashpoints","your-army","news","daily-news-roundup","newsletters","left-column","home"],"primary_category":"your-army"},"6":{"categories":["flashpoints","your-marine-corps","news","daily-news-roundup","newsletters","left-column","home"],"primary_category":"your-marine-corps"},"7":{"categories":["flashpoints","your-navy","news","daily-news-roundup","newsletters","middle-column","home"],"primary_category":"your-navy"}}},"categories":[10,29,116,117,15,88],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3219,3111],"class_list":["post-35080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-flashpoints","category-home","category-left-column","category-middle-column","category-news","category-your-military"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"OGUKRCY7HJFS7ORO4WV4WSDBDE","arc_canonical_url":"\/flashpoints\/2019\/04\/07\/us-withdraws-troops-from-libya-amid-rival-militias-fighting-near-capital\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>US withdraws troops from Libya amid rival militias fighting near capital - Military Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The United States said Sunday it has temporarily withdrawn some of its forces from Libya due to \u201csecurity conditions on the ground,\u201d as a Libyan military commander\u2019s forces advanced toward the capital, Tripoli, clashing with rival militias.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"US withdraws troops from Libya amid rival militias fighting near capital\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The United States said Sunday it has temporarily withdrawn some of its forces from Libya due to \u201csecurity conditions on the ground,\u201d as a Libyan military commander\u2019s forces advanced toward the capital, Tripoli, clashing with rival militias.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/04\/07\/us-withdraws-troops-from-libya-amid-rival-militias-fighting-near-capital\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Military Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-04-07T15:10:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T05:35:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rami Musa, The Associated Press, Samy Magdy, The Associated Press\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rami Musa, The Associated Press, Samy Magdy, The Associated Press\" \/>\n\t<meta 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