Eastern Libya commander Haftar returns after treatment in France

Eastern Libyan military leader Khalifa Haftar returned to his country on Thursday, almost two weeks after it was revealed he was in Paris for treatment, Libyan media reported.

His plane landed at Benina airport, east of Benghazi city, from Cairo.

Upon his arrival, Haftar was received by high-ranking officers from the army and police.

The Libyan military leader assured Libyans in a brief statement that he was in good health, adding that he wanted them "to trust the army because they are ones who will get you to where you want."

On 14 April, a spokesman for Haftar's forces said the general had been admitted to a hospital in Paris after falling ill.

Benghazi is the birthplace of the 2011 armed revolt that toppled longtime autocrat Moamer Gaddafi. As a result of the ensuing civil war, the city descended into chaos and was at times controlled by an alliance of Islamist militants.

Haftar started a major campaign against radical Islamists in Benghazi in 2014.  In July, his forces seized the port city. However, several deadly attacks have since taken place in Benghazi.

The oil-rich country is currently split between two rival administrations: one in the capital Tripoli and the other in Tobruk. Haftar is the chief of Libya's self-styled National Army, which is aligned with an elected parliament based in the eastern city of Tobruk.    (dpa)