Although Hafter has the Zintani brigades on board, who like him are now considered to be part of the Libyan national army, this is clearly not sufficient to enable him to secure a win in Tripoli. Chief of Staff Colonel Abdulrazzak Al-Nazuri said as much this week.
For the moment, therefore, Hafter looks set to be confined to launching continued air strikes against Operation Libya Dawn targets in the capital such as those he carried out against the Mitiga airport this week.