Tensions continue to grow around Tripoli as the Libyan National Army led by general Khalifa Haftar tries to seize the capital. The internationally recognized government based in Tripoli has been resisting the attacks under the leadership of Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj. CGTN's Yasser Hakim has the latest.  

A flurry of meetings in the region. General Khalifa Haftar has just ended a three day visit to Cairo following a tour to Europe. Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El Sisi had commended Haftar's military operation as a war on terrorism.

MOHAMED HEMEDA EXECUTIVE EDITOR, AL SABAH NEWS "From the beginning of the conflict, Egypt has been keen on uniting the Libyan political forces and the army to preserve stability of the country, however, they are still divided. Egypt's main concern is to fight terrorism and extremism in the region especially that ISIL is still at large in the south of Libya. Egypt is supporting the efforts of the Libyan National Army to combat extremists."

Haftar's arch foe, Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, has also returned from a trip to Europe. He tried to convince Western powers to force Haftar for a ceasefire, but to no avail.

On the battlefront, The Libya National Army has announced a change of tactics by targeting the coastal city of Sirte. From there the army will try to push into Tripoli from the northeastern route.

MOHAMED HEMEDA EXECUTIVE EDITOR, AL SABAH NEWS "The LNA is now trying to infiltrate from different sides of the capital north and south. The presence of civilian population slows down the process to avoid loss of lives. It's like a war of attrition. The LNA is trying to pull the militias out of the capital by cutting off all supplies to them. This tactic obviously prolongs the war."

YASSER HAKIM CAIRO, EGYPT "The tension escalation in Libya in the last few weeks have reduced any hope of a political settlement soon. Major political forces are not changing their stance to accommodate any agreement. Thus the war seems inevitable to continue for the foreseeable future. Yasser Hakim, CGTN, Cairo."