US officials deny any upcoming Trump-Haftar meeting or talks

Haftar's loyalists have been spreading rumors of the meeting to up their fighters' morale, according to some observers.

BY Libyan Express Jun 08, 2019 - 09:15 Updated: Jun 08, 2019 - 14:31

White House denied that Trumpt had invited Haftar for a meeting in the US. [Photo: Libyan Express]

High-profile US officials have denied any upcoming meeting for the President Donald Trump with Khalifa Haftar at the White House.

According to media reports, the officials also discarded rumors that said the White House had sent an invitation for Haftar to meet Trump, saying such news is fake.

Media outlets loyal to Haftar have been saying over the last three days that Haftar has received an invitation from the White House for a meeting with Donald Trump to discuss the ongoing Tripoli battle.

Sources also anonymously confirmed to Libyan Express that such a Trump-Haftar meeting could take place on June 15.

Trump spoke on the phone last April with Haftar and blessed the latter’s offensive on Tripoli as a form of fighting terrorism, knowing that the fighting is against the UN-backed and US-supported Government of National Accord.

US Senators from the Committee on Foreign Affairs sent days ago a letter to the US President Donald Trump about the ongoing Tripoli fighting, voicing concerns over the military escalation in Libya.

The Senators, including Republican Lindsey Graham, told Trump that some neighboring countries of Libya are fueling the fighting by supporting their allies inside the country and this “goes against the US policy.”

The Senators also indicated that there can be no military solution in Libya, urging President Trump to publicly work on forcing a ceasefire in Tripoli and supporting the efforts of the UN, using all kinds of diplomatic pressure to help start a civilian-led transition in Libya.

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