“There is no military solution” to the conflict in Libya, is what the external-backers of each side keep trumpeting. But actions speak louder than words. Since the high-profile Berlin peace conference on 19 January, foreign arms shipments to both sides of the divided country have continued and appear to have been stepped up.

Eastern-based General Khalifa Haftar is hellbent on taking Tripoli by force. He has all but torpedoed a shaky ceasefire by moving his Libyan National Army (LNA) on the western city of Misrata and continued his attacks on the rival Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli. His military spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari says “guns are the solution to Libya’s crisis.” (CONTINUED - 507 WORDS)