Selling oil across Libya

Chapter 26 Collapse

Magariaf and Jalil made a serious mistake: when forming the interim government, they not only failed to consult the Numidian Brigade, but even excluded Haftar from the interim government.

This is ridiculous.

After all, following Younis's assassination, Haftar, despite holding only the rank of colonel, had become the highest-ranking military leader of the opposition.

The conflict between the Transitional Council, led by Jalil, and Haftar has a long history.

Shortly after the outbreak of the Libyan civil war, Omar Hariri, head of the military committee under the Transitional Council, announced the appointment of Haftar as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but this was subsequently denied by the Transitional Council.

Qin Rui could understand Magariaf and Jalil's decision, but he did not accept it.

Magariaf and Jalil probably deliberately excluded the military's powerful figures from the provisional government to avoid the emergence of another colonel.

But if this happens, will the decrees of the Transitional Council and the interim government still be able to leave Benghazi?

It might not even work in Benghazi.

Qin Rui would certainly not hand over the jurisdiction of the oil field to the provisional government.

They will also not allow Haftar's army to enter west of 15 degrees east longitude.

Like Qin Rui, Haftar was also very dissatisfied with the rejection of the Transitional Council and the Provisional Government.

While Qin Rui refused to hand over control of the oil field to the interim government, Musa and Zintan Brigade Commander Osama secretly met in Zlitan.

Zlitan is located between Tripoli and Misrata. Before the outbreak of the civil war, it was home to about 20 people, but now, like Tripoli, very few remain.

"If you give up Misrata, you can have Tripoli."

Osama hopes to divide spheres of influence with the Numidian Brigade.

"Was this the colonel's suggestion?"

Musa was unsure whether Osama could represent Haftar.

"You can think that way, but don't expect confirmation from the colonel."

Osama sneered; this was merely a proposal for a temporary truce.

Although the Zintan brigade is equipped with heavy weapons such as tanks and helicopters.

Haftar was deeply wary of the Numidian Brigade's fighting capabilities.

The Libyan civil war is a classic case of two weaklings fighting each other; after a fierce battle, casualties usually only amount to a few hundred.

In the process of capturing Tripoli, the Numidian Brigade killed more than 5000 militants in just one week.

The Zintan Brigade, the strongest armed force in Libya, has a total strength of only 5000 men.

"In that case, you must withdraw from Misrata after the battle of Surt ends."

Musa resolutely carried out Qin Rui's order, demanding that the 15th parallel east be used as the boundary.

"Isn't Tripoli and all the oil fields in the west enough to satisfy your appetite?"

Osama was very angry.

"Tripoli has been reduced to ruins, is ravaged by plague, and is nearly wiped out. If you want, we can trade with Benghazi!"

Musa did not expect Haftar to keep his promise.

"Oh!"

Usama neither confirmed nor denied the meeting and voluntarily ended it.

"Using Zlitan as the boundary is also an option."

Yuri hopes to accept Haftar's proposal for a temporary truce.

Haftar's primary task right now is to deal with the colonel; he cannot afford to attend to the Numidian Brigade until he has dealt with the colonel.

Numidian Brigade also needs time to build up its strength.

Yuri is contacting international intermediaries in an attempt to obtain air defense and anti-armor weapons through unofficial channels.

Wang Hai is also hiring weapons development personnel through headhunting companies.

Buying is not the solution.

To completely solve this problem, we still have to build it ourselves.

Qin Rui wasn't idle either.

It takes 20 years for 2 people to reverse the "stinger" process. How long would it take for 20 people to do the same?

What about 200 people?

Qin Rui did not exchange for max-level soldiers during this period. As long as the survival time reached 10 days, he used all the extra points to exchange for military research personnel.

Qin Rui now has 46 engineers at the highest level.

Instead of going to Bengaldan, these engineers conducted their research in a castle near Gharyan, about 80 kilometers south of Tripoli.

This is also because Qin Rui imagined military research to be too mysterious.

The "poison stinger" is indeed a high-tech weapon that cannot be overcome in a short period of time.

Anti-armor weapons are actually quite simple; there are even blueprints available online. The only thing lacking is the raw materials.

"The dividing line they proposed was not Zlitan, but Hums."

The Hums that Musa mentioned is located between Tripoli and Misrata, about 110 kilometers from Tripoli and about 80 kilometers from Misrata.

Zlitan lies between Hums and Misrata.

"How is that possible? Even if there is a ceasefire, it should be based on the line of actual control between the two sides."

Yuri disagreed.

Let's continue the discussion then.

While Qin Rui was having his meeting, Haftar was also having his.

"Those bastards have already started selling oil; we can't give them a chance to breathe."

Haftar's deputy, Akram Buhlejja, did not approve of a ceasefire.

"It will take our people at least six months to learn how to use tanks and helicopters;

Only then can we completely break free from our dependence on NATO.

Osama warned Haftar that if the fighting did not stop, the Zintan Brigade would be forced to increase its dependence on NATO.

"Why does it take so long? Six months is enough time for us to build a tank!"

Bukhleja expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of action by the Zintan Brigade.

"A qualified helicopter pilot needs to undergo a long period of rigorous training."

Osama firmly believed that helicopters were the decisive force in changing the course of the battlefield.

"What's the situation in Tripoli?"

Haftar is cautious.

"It's terrible. The city is severely damaged, and many buildings have become dangerous and need to be demolished and rebuilt."

I asked some people from Tripoli, and they said there was a plague breaking out in Tripoli, many people were dying, and the survivors were fleeing, afraid to stay in Tripoli any longer.

Osama believes the situation in Tripoli is not optimistic.

"Where is Hummus?"

Excitement gleamed in Haftar's eyes.

"The situation in Hums is similar to that in Tripoli; the entire region has at most 10,000 people left."

When the rebels besieged Tripoli, Osama set up his command post in Homs.

"That's settled then. Even if we agree to their demands, they're doomed."

Haftar was pleased; this was exactly what he wanted.

More than 90 percent of Libya’s population lives near the northern coast, centered around Tripoli and Benghazi.

The war is mainly concentrated around Tripoli, while Benghazi is far from the battlefield and enjoys a peaceful life.

"Numidiyah does not allow polygamy, nor does it provide free food to residents, nor does it share oil revenue with residents."

The radio broadcast told the people of Tripoli that Benghazi had everything they wanted!

Haftar laughed maniacally, knowing that without men, the Numidian Brigade, with only a few thousand soldiers, would soon collapse.