The latest military operation carried by rebel commander Khalifa Haftar in Tripoli towers above the Libyan political scene. Backed by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Haftar is trying take control over the Libyan capital which is headed by UN-backed Government of National Accord. The latter relies on Morocco’s support to counter Haftar’s efforts, a former Libyan official told Yabiladi.
Shortly after Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita addressed diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Riyadh responded to Morocco’s critics through its Foreign Minister.
The UK feared Gaddafi would launch an air attack against Gibraltar through Morocco. Unclassified documents, revealed that London took the threats seriously, giving military guidelines to its forces on the Rock.
At the beginning of the 21st century, Morocco and Libya worked on strengthening their bilateral ties. In 2001, King Mohammed VI visited Tripoli, where he met Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. The latter, however, was rude to the Moroccan monarch whom he called «my son».