Libyan government accepts UN-backed Eid al-Adha ceasefire proposal to halt Tripoli fighting

The UN envoy for Libya, Ghassan Salame, had proposed a truce for the Eid holiday, which begins on Sunday.

In a statement, the Libyan government said that the ceasefire, "will allow humanitarian workers to provide services to refugees and those affected by fighting and maintenance teams to repair damage to infrastructure, including electricity towers and lines."

Fighters allied with the Tripoli-based government have been fighting since April against a military offensive to take the capital by the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), led by rogue Libyan General Khalifa Haftar.

Some military leaders allied with the government expressed reservations about accepting a ceasefire. Saleh Al-Qayed, a member of the army staff command, said that Haftar was preparing to attack Tripoli during Eid.

On Friday, Haftar issued orders to the LNA, telling them to continue serving as normal during Eid and thus indicating that the LNA would not be observing the ceasefire.

A spokesman for LNA did not answer phone calls seeking comment on Saturday.

More than 1,100 people have been killed since the beginning of Haftar’s offensive against Tripoli and over 100,000 people have been displaced. Recent airstrikes by Haftar’s air force have killed dozens of civilians.