On the outskirts of Tripoli the echoes of war rage at the front line south of the Libyan capital city – home to more than a million people.
It’s the latest escalation of civil conflict in a divided country torn by instability since the fall of long-time military dictator Muammar Gaddafi eight years ago.
At least 392 people have been killed and up to 1936 wounded since the conflict began in early April, according to the World Health Organisation. Some 50,000 people are thought to be displaced.
Libyans in Australia can only bear witness as their relatives tell of their struggles.
More than 2,500 Libyan-born migrants are estimated to be living in Australia, with the majority in Victoria.
A fighter loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) watches as smoke rises in the distance during clashes with forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar. Source: AFP
Melbourne-based Ezieddin Elmahjub came to Australia in 2010 and is now a law lecturer at Swinburne University.
His parents and nine siblings are caught up in clashes near residential areas south of Tripoli.
“They are fighting for their lives – civilians are really scared,” he told SBS News.
Mr Elmahjub says he can do nothing but pray for them.
“Horrible stories about shelling [and] multi-rocket launches being used. All the time, tanks firing ammunition."
Ezieddin Elmahjub. Source: Supplied
Ramadan threat
A military general backed by a parallel parliament in the country’s east is fighting for control of the capital from Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).
The split of the two rival administrations happened five years ago. And now General Khalifa Haftar is urging his troops to intensify their offensive to take Tripoli during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began this week.
“Officers and soldiers in our armed forces I urge you with your strength and determination to teach the enemy a greater and bigger lesson than the previous ones,” General Haftar said.
Islam is the overwhelming majority religion in Libya.
General Haftar won the support of Libya’s eastern parliament by driving out Islamist militants from Benghazi and other parts of the country’s east. Earlier this year, he seized areas of the oil-rich south before turning his sights on Tripoli.
Libyan National Army General Khalifa Haftar arrives for the international congress on Libya, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France. Source: EPA
He claims Libya is under threat from “terrorism” and armed militias - some of which are allied to the Tripoli-based government.
The military general launched his Libyan National Army’s (LNA) assault last month. A move he says is aimed at restoring security to the nation.
Nervous for his family’s safety Mr Elmahjub has struggled to stay in contact through the wavering internet connections of the conflict zone.
But he says his family has been forced to flee from their homes.
“Most of my family lives near Tripoli airport,” Mr Elmahjub said.
“Trying to start an offensive on this area is insane and nobody expected it."
The airport is a strategic flashpoint in the conflict, hit by airstrikes the United Nations (UN) blamed on General Haftar’s forces last month [see video at top of article].
“I am extremely worried that if [General Haftar] will take over – that’s the end of my family's dream to live in a free country,’” Mr Elmahjub told SBS News.
If [General Haftar] will take over – that’s the end of my family's dream to live in a free country. - Ezieddin Elmahjub, Melbourne
Human Rights Watch’s Eric Goldstein told SBS News the military front is coming at a human cost.
“This fighting has caused the displacement of many civilians,” he told SBS News.
“Right now we have a situation in Tripoli where forces allied with a rival government in the east is attempting to oust the UN-backed Government of National Accord.”
Sydney-based Libyan community leader Hadi Bourghiba also holds fears for his family, who are based near Tripoli's southern front line.
A fighters loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) prepares to fire a truck-mounted gun during clashes with forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Hafta. Source: AFP
“This place is very close to where my sister and her family live – close to my mother as well,” Mr Bourghiba told SBS News.
“We are worried – the community is worried – especially those who have family in Tripoli.”
Libyans divided
General Khalifa Hafta was a former field marshal in Muammar Gaddafi’s army before being exiled to the US. He later rejoined Libya’s fight to topple the despotic dictator during their revolution of 2011.
Mr Bourguiba says he is worried for Libya’s future if General Haftar gains control of the capital. But he said many Libyans in Australia are divided in their view of the conflict.
“[General Haftar] wants to get power over Libya – he wants to rule – [and] he is not going to rule with freedom and democracy,” he said.
“There are many [Libyans] in Australia who feel the same but at the same time lots do support what [General Haftar] does.”
Melbourne-based Libyan Ismael asked for his surname to be withheld over safety concerns for his relatives.
Fighters loyal to the internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) reacts during clashes with forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar. Source: AFP
He told SBS News his brother’s family had just gone back inside their home south of Tripoli when he says a rocket fell, destroying cars in their street.
“Thank God no one was injured,” he said.
“They are really worried about what is happening.”
But despite his family’s close proximity to the fighting, Ismael supports General Haftar’s fight to take control of the capital.
“We don’t like this struggling and suffering of the people of Tripoli,” he said.
Fighters loyal to the internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) load a cannon during clashes with forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar. Source: AFP
“I know the consequence – many houses will be destroyed and many innocent people killed.”
“[But] what he is doing is right because people are fed up with these militias and instability in the country.”
What [General Haftar] is doing is right because people are fed up with these militias and instability in the country. - Ismael, Melbourne
General Haftar won the support of Libya’s eastern parliament by driving out Islamist militants from Benghazi and other parts of the country’s east. Earlier this year, he seized areas of the oil-rich south before turning his sights on Tripoli.
”If the army takes control that means the country will settle down,” Ismael said.
“The lack of security – money, food [and] medicine [is] because of this bad management or bad government in Tripoli.”
Deakin University Middle East researcher Mat Hardy told SBS News General Haftar has used instability within Libya to leverage his political credibility.
“Libya since the fall of the Gaddafi regime has been very factionalised,” he said.
“The militias don’t want to run the country – they want to look after themselves.”
“[But General Haftar’s] saying we have got to secure Libya by me getting rid of these militias and Islamic-state type operators."
Sydney-based Nabil Giweli's cousin Osama al-Juwaili was the Minister of Defence of the Government of National Accord following Libya’s revolution.
Nabil Giweli at his PHD graduation at Western Sydney University. Source: Supplied
The same cousin is now the Tripoli-based government’s Western District Military Commander.
“Our surname is one of the wanted ones,” Mr Giweli said.
He told SBS News his cousin’s 27-year old son Hassan Alfakhal was killed fighting against General Haftar’s army south of Tripoli last Thursday.
Osama al-Juwaili, Government of National Accord Western District Military Commander Source: Supplied
“Each day we have people die – civilian people – military people – just because someone wants to take control of the country,” Mr Giweli said.
Hassan Alfakhal died in fighting against Libyan National Army forces on 2 May Source: Supplied
International implications
General Haftar has the backing of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates who see him as a strong opponent against armed groups in the region.
Human Rights Watch’s Eric Goldstein said there is a concern foreign countries could be enabling militias allied with the warring parties.
“Libya is a patchwork – there are parts that are in absolute turmoil and other parts are calm,” he said.
"[But] no one is held accountable for killing civilians."
Deakin University’s Mr Hardy said Western countries can be hesitant to become embroiled in Libya due to its history of instability.
“Nobody is really willing to get too involved in Libya because it is just such a broken mess,” he told SBS News.
There are concerns continued unrest in Libya could again see an influx of migration across the Mediterranean to Europe.
Mr Goldstein said migrants already detained in Tripoli following failed attempts at the journey are also at risk.
“If they are anywhere near Tripoli they are in danger,” Mr Goldstein said.
“They can't remove themselves to safety because they are behind bars.”
Mr Giweli, whose cousin was killed in fighting, is from Zintan - one of the cities that rose up against Muammar Gaddafi’s four-decade regime.
Members of the Libyan National Army (LNA), also known as the forces loyal to Marshal Khalifa Haftar, clash with jihadists in Benghazi on May 20, 2017. Source: AFP
He returned to Libya to support the revolution against him. Now, he fears the return of a dictatorship.
“General Haftar wants to take control of the country and bring back military order,” he said.
“They want to bring us back to square one where we were with Gaddafi.”
General Haftar’s offensive has already delayed a planned UN-backed national conference between the two parallel governments that was scheduled for 14 April.
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on March 18, 1992 in Tripoli. Libya. Source: Gamma-Rapho
The meeting was being held to prepare Libya for elections that both General Haftar and the Tripoli government’s Prime Minister Fateh Al-Sarraj have given their tacit support.
This week the United Nations called for a week-long humanitarian truce between the warring sides.
But it is a lasting peace that Hadi Bourghiba says Libyans truly long for.
“We want freedom… and [we] don’t want this war.”
