US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo holds a press conference after meetings of NATO foreign ministers during the 70th anniversary of the alliance at the US Department of State April 4, 2019, in Washington, DC. / AFP / Brendan Smialowski
Washington: The United States called for an immediate halt to military operations by Khalifa Haftar's forces against the Libyan capital and return to status quo ante positions.
The United States is "deeply concerned" by fighting near Libya's capital Tripoli and is seeking an "immediate halt" to an offensive by Haftar, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.
Pompeo urged all parties to "urgently de-escalate the situation." "This unilateral military campaign against Tripoli is endangering civilians and undermining prospects for a better future for all Libyans," he said.
The Secretary of State stressed that there is "no military solution to the Libya conflict." "The United States continues to press Libyan leaders, together with our international partners, to return to political negotiations mediated by UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ghassan Salame," he added.
"A political solution is the only way to unify the country and provide a plan for security, stability, and prosperity for all Libyans," Pompeo added.
