Libya army official denies news of Marshal Haftar's death

CAIRO – 13 April 2018: The media office of Libyan military spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari denied Friday news claiming the departure of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, commander-in-chief of the Libyan Armed Forces, in Paris.

Egyptian lawmaker Mustafa Bakri has tweeted about Haftar’s alleged death, saying “his departure is a great loss, for he was a common denominator among the respectable sons of Libya.”

The official Facebook page of Mesmari has denied the news and said Haftar is carrying out his leadership duties normally.

Haftar has reportedly been flown to Paris for medical treatment following a severe stroke.

According to the EREM News portal, Libyan National Army political administration head Hussein al-Obeidi said Haftar had left France and returned to Benghazi on Friday. He added that the field marshal's health was "excellent" and that he was "in good physical shape."

Moreover, according to Libyan sources, the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, contacted Haftar to discuss the latest developments in Libya.

Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar is a Libyan military officer and the head of the Libyan National Army.