A Talk with Libyan rebel leader Major General Abdul Fatah Younis

Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat- Many Libyans view Major General Abdul Fatah Younis, commander in chief of the National Liberation Army of the revolutionaries opposed to the rule of Col. Muammar Gaddafi as a national hero and a professional soldier.

The former Libyan interior minister has let his beard grow recently because of his daily preoccupation with following up military developments and directing his fighters along the lines of confrontation with Gaddafi’s army.  Speaking from a place on the eastern front he refused to name for security reasons, he said “the revolutionaries are hoping to bring down Gaddafi’s regime and finish it off with their light weapons before the blessed month of Ramadan”, yet he added that no specific dates for military developments could be predicted.

Following is the text of the interview:

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Are the reports that you were injured when you were at the frontline true?

[Younis, laughing] I am talking to you now.  I am well, praise be to God.  Do not listen to the lies of the media of Gaddafi and his regime.  I am still doing my job of commanding the revolutionaries.  I am one of them and I have not been injured at all.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] How do you describe the current military scene in Libya?

[Younis] For the revolution, praise be to God, the situation is excellent and very good.  We are making progress constantly.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] What about Brega?

[Younis] Our situation there is also good.  God willing, we will resolve the situation soon.  We have full control of the area apart from its western approach and are on the way of seizing control of it in the coming few days.  As you know, Gaddafi is concentrating all his military forces to prevent our control of this oil and strategic area which is of military, economic, and political importance.  He considers it a crucial battle for his forces and we too also consider Brega battle and control of it extremely important.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] What about Ra’s Lanuf?

[Younis] We will advance to Ra’s Lanuf and other nearby cities and towns and to Sirte until the capital Tripoli.  We are advancing constantly and fighting despite the big difference in the number of forces and level of armament.  There is no comparison between the level of the armament of Gaddafi’s army and us and yet we are achieving important and continuous victories.  God willing, we will continue until we enter Tripoli.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Are you expecting to resolve the situation militarily before the holy month of Ramadan?

[Younis] We are of course hoping for this and working for it.  But it is all up to God Almighty.  We are exerting our utmost efforts and fighting with light weapons and fighters that were not well trained but have the determination and insistence on toppling Gaddafi’s regime and liberate Libya from his grip.  There are no dates, whether before, during, or after Ramadan.  All these are military matters whose dates cannot be predicted.  But I am saying that we are working to bring down Gaddafi’s regime today before tomorrow.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Why did you accuse Algeria again of arming Gaddafi and helping him by sending the mercenaries?

[Younis] The ship we discovered was carrying weapons that had arrived in Algeria en route to Libya.  Algeria has a final warning from NATO, the Western Alliance, and the EU and this support should stop.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] But Algeria denied the whole report?

[Younis] Let them deny as they like.  We are not talking nonsense.  All the facts will be uncovered after the liberation of Libya and the regime’s downfall so that everyone will know that Algeria has done to support Gaddafi.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] You mean you have irrefutable evidence and documents indicting Algeria?

[Younis] Yes, of course.  We do not say just anything.  What we say is based on facts and documents.  We will reveal the conclusive evidence when Libya is liberated.  We have no interest in making such accusations aimlessly against anyone and this odd and constant stand by Algeria, state and government, pains us but we know that the Algerian people support us.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] What is your assessment of NATO’s military performance?

[Younis] NATO is carrying out its duty of protecting civilians in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.  It is undoubtedly playing a good role and helping us.  You see it attacking Gaddafi’s targets and forces on several fronts to protect the civilians and wear down this regime militarily while we take care of the rest.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] How do you see the Arab stand toward you?

[Younis] Each country has its circumstances and we understand everyone’s circumstances and hope they develop in favor of supporting the Libyan people’s revolution and uprising against Gaddafi’s regime.  Let me seize this opportunity to say that we are looking for a more effective role from Saudi Arabia.  Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz is a wise, rational, and judicious man and we appreciate his Arab, national, and Islamic role.  We are relying very much on the kingdom’s stand and hoping for the Saudi stand to develop and thank it very much for supporting the Libyan people at the various stands and circumstances.