Not that our news pays much attention, but there is a civil war ongoing in Libya. Making a delightful change, the U.S. is taking no part.
Major players are Turkey and Russia; lesser players include the U.A.E., Egypt, Italy, France, and several groups of Islamic extremists. The Council on Foreign Relations has the story.
Libya has extensive oil and gas reserves, which several players would like to exploit. The division between western Libya - Tripoli - and eastern Libya - Benghazi - is at least partially tribal.
Factions in the Middle East are mostly what Tahseen Bashir memorably called "tribes with flags." He made Egypt his sole exception. Tribe being defined as "A unit of sociopolitical organization consisting of a number of families, clans, or other groups who share a common ancestry and culture."
The last time the U.S. paid much attention to Libya was in 2012 when U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens was besieged in Benghazi. SecState Hillary Clinton and President Obama failed to send a military rescue mission, and Stevens and his 3 bodyguards were mutilated and murdered by Islamic extremists.
Libya is one of Trump's sh**holes where you'd enjoy seeing both sides lose. All the players are evil.
