Forces of the pro-Haftar militia extend to the outskirts of Tripoli

Forces loyal to strong Libyan man Khalifa Haftar reached Thursday night a security fence within 30 km of the capital Tripoli, said an AFP journalist, while the world's powers said it would not be safe for them. warned of the consequences of military action.

General Abdessalem al-Hbadi, head of the Libyan National Army's (LNA) self-proclaimed Haftar operations in the eastern region, said his forces had seized the roadblock without carrying out any fighting.

Haftar's forces announced on Wednesday that they were preparing for an offensive in the west of the country in order to purge it of "terrorists and mercenaries" after seizing key areas in the south of the country. since the beginning of the year.

Dozens of uniformed men and at least 15 trucks carrying anti-aircraft guns took up positions at the checkpoint known as "Bridge 27", just 27 kilometers from Tripoli, the government's headquarters. internationally recognized union.

Meanwhile, fighters from the Tripoli Protection Force, a capital militia alliance, announced on Facebook that they had launched an operation to stop the advance of the LNA, without giving any details .

The head of the Unity government, Fayez al-Sarraj, had previously condemned Haftar's "escalation" and declared that he had ordered the loyalist forces to prepare to "face all the threat".

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"The time has come," said Haftar in an audio message released Thursday by his self-proclaimed Libyan national army, in which he pledged to spare civilians and "state institutions".

Dozens of militias have fought for control of the country of North Africa since a NATO-backed uprising overthrew and killed longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Haftar's forces have become a key player, opposing the Tripoli government and supporting a parallel administration in the east.

On Thursday night, LNA spokesman Ahmed Mesmari announced that the force was "at the gates of the capital".

The head of the Unity government, Fayez al-Sarraj, had previously condemned Haftar's "escalation" and declared that he had ordered the loyalist forces to prepare to "face all the threat".

His Interior Ministry announced a "state of maximum alert" and powerful armed groups from Misrata, in western Libya, said they were ready to quit. the advance of Haftar.

A convoy of vehicles from Haftar forces was pushed back Thursday to the city of Gharyan, about 100 kilometers from Tripoli, witnesses and military sources said.

Commander Abdessalem Al-Hbadi told AFP Thursday that his forces had entered the city without a fight.

But at least four sources in the city have denied this claim, and a Gharyan official said there were "ongoing efforts to avoid a confrontation" between rival fighters who divide the city.

Risk of "chaos"

Haftar has repeatedly expressed his intention to march on Tripoli.

In January, his forces launched an offensive from his fortresses from east to south Libya, rich in oil, apparently aimed at eliminating "terrorists" and criminal groups.

Antonio Guterres, the UN chief, traveled to Tripoli in anticipation of the conference scheduled for later this month with the aim of defining a road map for postponing parliamentary and presidential elections.

"I am deeply concerned about the military movement in Libya and the risk of confrontation," Guterres tweeted.

The United States and its allies issued a joint statement urging "all parties to immediately defuse tensions".

"Our governments will oppose any military action in Libya and hold any Libyan faction accountable for precipitating a new civil conflict," said the United Arab Emirates, France, France and Britain.

"At this sensitive moment of transition in Libya, military positions and threats of unilateral actions only risk propelling Libya into chaos."

The European Union warned that "the ongoing military reinforcement in Libya and the rhetoric of escalation … would seriously risk leading to an uncontrollable confrontation".

The UN Security Council will meet in camera on Friday to discuss Libya, at the request of Britain, diplomats said.

Russia, which has courted Haftar, has called for a solution to the problems of Libya by means "politico-diplomatic".

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The rival Libyan leaders agreed in Paris to hold elections before the end of last year, but this vote never materialized, as Haftar's forces and the Tripoli government vied for power.

The UN said Haftar and Sarraj agreed at a meeting in Abu Dhabi last month to try again to hold the elections.

Libyan badyst Emad Badi said factions in western Libya were seeking a common front against the strong man, but "whatever the outcome … Haftar will benefit militarily or politically".

"His progress can strengthen his position in the negotiations" if the UN-backed conference this month continues, added Badi.

Jalel Harchaoui, a researcher at the Clingendael Institute in The Hague, said that "taking Tripoli is certainly not an easy task or risk-free, but remains a possibility".

"The risk of conflagration has increased," he said.