TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — An Al-Qaida-inspired group on Tuesday vowed to fight a Libyan renegade general who is waging an offensive against Islamists, accusing him of being an “American agent” who wants to replicate last year’s military overthrow of an elected government in neighboring Egypt.

Mohammed al-Zahawi, the leader of Ansar al-Shariah, said in a televised press conference that his group would combat Gen. Khalifa Hifter’s so-called “Dignity Operation,” which began more than 10 days ago and is aimed at crushing Islamist militias and their political backers.