Escalating tensions in Libya center on former army general Khalifa Hifter, who on May 16 launched “Operation Dignity for Libya” in Benghazi, promising to “cleanse the city of terrorists.” On May 18, militias loyal to Hifter attacked the national parliament, and on May 19, fighting broke out in Tripoli. Various Libyan factions have been positioning themselves around the conflict. This graphic illustrates some of the early alignments.

Libyan factions position themselves with respect to Khalifa Hifter (click to enlarge)

Daveed Gartenstein-Ross is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and an adjunct assistant professor in Georgetown University’s security studies program. Nathaniel Barr and Jordan Lande are with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Photo credit: Surian Soosay