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🛒 تسوق الآنLibya rebel militias challenge Haftar's authority in new escalation
Libya rebel militias challenge Haftar's authority in new escalation
Zintan Brigade clashes with Haftar convoy expose fractures in eastern military alliance
A direct firefight between the Zintan Brigade and the convoy of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar has exposed deepening fractures within Libya's eastern military command, raising fears of renewed internal conflict among armed groups that have long been allied against common enemies.
The confrontation on December 10 saw the Zintan militia — nominally part of the Libyan National Army (LNA) — open fire on Haftar's convoy without authorization from the high command, according to sources cited by the Jamestown Foundation. The incident marks one of the most serious challenges to Haftar's authority from within his own coalition in recent years.
Who are the Zintan Brigade?
The Zintan Brigade is one of Libya's most enduring armed factions, originating from the Zintan region in the Nafusa Mountains southwest of Tripoli. Unlike many militias that emerged after the 2011 uprising, the Zintan fighters have maintained significant autonomy, often shifting alliances based on local interests rather than national command structures.
Their alignment with Haftar's LNA has always been conditional. Analysts at the Jamestown Foundation describe the group as operating with "significant independence" within the broader eastern coalition, a arrangement of convenience rather than organic unity. The December convoy attack demonstrates how quickly that arrangement can break down.
Deeper cracks in the eastern coalition
The incident is not isolated. Over the past year, tensions between Haftar's inner circle and various allied militias have escalated over three key issues: control of lucrative smuggling routes, distribution of military supplies from foreign backers, and leadership succession questions as Haftar's health remains a subject of speculation.
- Revenue sharing from illicit fuel and goods trafficking has become a major source of friction among eastern armed groups
- Russian and UAE military equipment deliveries have created perceptions of favoritism toward Haftar's immediate command
- Questions over who would succeed the 82-year-old field marshal have fueled jockeying among regional commanders
The fragile architecture of Haftar's authority
Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar has controlled eastern Libya through a combination of military force, political maneuvering, and foreign backing since 2014. His Libyan National Army was never a single unified force but rather an umbrella coalition of tribal militias, former army units, and regional armed groups bound by shared interests and opposition to common rivals.
The Guardian's 2026 investigation into Haftar's rule noted that when the UN-brokered a unity government in December, it "demoted the western parliament and required a confidence vote." Haftar's eastern parliament refused and appointed a rival government. The analysis concluded: "The UN had not unified Libya. It had handed Haftar a veto." But the Zintan confrontation suggests that veto may not hold forever.
What this means for Libya's stability
The confrontation carries implications beyond internal LNA politics. The Zintan Brigade's challenge signals that Haftar can no longer take his coalition's loyalty for granted, potentially reshaping the military balance that has defined Libya's post-2014 landscape.
For the Government of National Unity in Tripoli, a divided eastern command presents both an opportunity and a risk. A weaker Haftar could open space for political negotiations — or it could trigger a violent power struggle that draws in foreign backers including Russia, the UAE, Turkey, and Egypt, each supporting different Libyan factions.
The international community, particularly the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), faces a narrowing window to push for a unified security framework before the fractures in the east become a new civil war within the civil war. More than a decade after the 2011 intervention that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, Libya remains a country where armed groups — not institutions — hold the real power.
— Libya Press / Security Desk
