The Egyptian press reported that the general Khalifa Haftar announced "the zero hour for the start of the decisive offensive on Tripoli. The general from Cyrenaica even gave the last instructions to his men: "do not touch private homes and properties".
There are, however, four European countries, Italy, France, Germany and Great Britain that still hope to be able to find a common line of action that ends with an unconditional ceasefire. The next step is to work on a preparatory “road map” for the Berlin Conference, scheduled between 15 and 20 January.
Yesterday in Brussels, Italy, France and Germany with their respective heads of government met for a working lunch where they tried to develop viable initiatives, given that Haftar's announcement leaves little hope for the diplomatic path since too much has been left freedom of action to Russia and Turkey. "They already have the boots of the ground, they ..".
Beyond the good intentions and the road maps under study, the possibility of sending a four-party shipment to Libya - including Great Britain - would be taking shape, and the identification of a third man to manage the Libya of pacification that is not al Serraj or Haftar. The idea of the community quartet is urged by the Italian premier Giuseppe Conte: "The EU must move together, it is not just an Italian issue". Italy's concerns must become European. The scenario that is taking shape, in the face of the escalation of violence announced by General Haftar and the presence of Russian snipers on the ground - the Wagner group made up of former soldiers of the Kremlin special forces - is that of strengthening the intervention capacity of Moscow, which could find in Ankara a strong ally with which to plan the future of Libya, cornering Egypt and throwing the European Union which is alongside Greece in the position of not being able to support the agreement on the eastern Mediterranean, considered contrary to international law.
Giuseppe Conte was even more precise: "It was Italy that asked for this meeting because it was foreseeable that Haftar's action would not be able to stabilize the country and it is important that the EU moves with a single voice. American ambiguity has certainly contributed to the current chaos Conte noted. The result is a proxy war that has become uncontrollable in which the presence and interests of foreign forces only worsen the situation.".
The risk, the Italian premier specified, is that of attracting terrorists or potential terrorists, with results that no one can afford.
European countries are probably a little late and it is difficult for Russians and Turks to let go.