Libya's Interior Minister: Legitimate government forces will win Tripoli battle
The Libyan Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha said the battle in Tripoli will be won by the legitimate government forces, whom he said are ready to fight on all frontlines. Bashagha told reporters that the Libyan Army under the command of Presidential Council's government is ready to repel all of the attacks against Tripoli, describing Khalifa Haftar's forces as "frustrated" and Haftar as "a loser". He added that Haftar's latest statement, in which he urged his forces to enter Tripoli, came after he had felt that his forces collapsed, so "he wanted to raise their morale". Zayed told reporters that Haftar's "Zero Hour" speech was to encourage his forces to continue their service to him as their morale had been hanging pretty low following numerous defeats over the last eight months. Zayed indicated, refuting news that the Presidential Council Head and members left Tripoli to work from outside the capital.
Source:Libya Observer
December 14, 2019 17:37 UTC
Libya's diplomatic mission in Egypt dissents from Sarraj, confirms its bias to Libyan army
Libya's Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj - ReutersCAIRO - 14 December 2019: Libya's diplomatic mission in Egypt, including all its affiliate diplomatic attaches, has distanced itself form the Government of National Accord (GNA) and leader Fayez Al Sarraj.The mission is emphasizing full support to the Libyan people, the National Army and elected parliament.All the Libyan diplomatic staff in Egypt affirmed that they don't recognize the GNA after signing controversial agreements with Turkey.This is what the Libyans objected to, considering that this agreement is an attack on their rights, a violation of the sovereignty of their country, and a waste of its wealth for the benefit of the Turks.They also called on all fellow diplomatic missions across the world to follow suit, Al Arabiya channel quoted a statement issued by the diplomatic mission on Saturday.The Libyan parliament submitted memoranda to the Arab League, the United Nations, and all regional organizations to repeal and revoke the agreement and withdraw the international recognition of the Saraj government.
Source:Libya Today
December 14, 2019 12:22 UTC
PC head meets senior Turkish officials in Qatar
Chairman of the Presidential Council (PC), Fayez Al-Sarraj, held on Saturday separate meetings in Qatar with Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Turkish Minister of Defence, Hulusi Akar, in the presence of Libya's Foreign Minister, Mohamed Sayala. The meeting, held on the sidelines of Doha Forum, touched upon developments at the political and security levels in Libya, as well as the international efforts regarding a solution to the Libyan crisis. The two sides also discussed bilateral relations and practical steps to implement the two MoUs signed by both countries on security cooperation and maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean.
Source:Libya Observer
December 14, 2019 12:11 UTC
UN report exposes Libyan factions' rampant arms embargo violations
Thank you for reading the news about UN report exposes Libyan factions' rampant arms embargo violations and now with the detailsAden - Yasmine El Tohamy - From buying an Irish navy boat re-registered as a "pleasure yacht" to enlisting a Canadian firm to recruit Sudanese fighters - Libya's warring parties are running rings around a UN arms embargo. The UN experts conclude "the arms embargo was ineffective, and resulted in regular maritime and air transfers to Libya of military material". 'External parties'The ship was subsequently bought by Haftar's forces for $1.5 million. More and more sophisticated arms including drones, armoured vehicles and anti-tank missiles have been delivered to the two camps in recent months. The report accuses the UAE of delivering a Russian aerial defence system (Pantsir-S1) to Haftar's forces.
Source:Libya Today
December 14, 2019 02:15 UTC
Can Anything Stop the Flow of Advanced Weapons into Libya?
If the country becomes a nexus for expertise and arms, increasingly deadly regional armed groups could destabilize the region. Weapons proliferation has been a security concern for Libya and its neighbors since the revolution of 2011, when militias looted the Gaddafi regime’s stockpiles of light weapons. That such armed groups are deploying advanced weapons has dangerous implications. With continued exposure to and training on such systems, Libyan armed groups’ capabilities will become increasingly sophisticated and deadly. Moreover, as they continue publishing novel uses of their advanced weaponry online, other armed groups stand to learn and benefit.
Source:Libya Today
December 13, 2019 18:11 UTC
E.U. calls on Libya’s warring factions to work towards peace
European countries have urged Libya’s warring factions to work towards lasting peace in the North African country. The call by Macron, Merkel and Conte comes following an announcement by Strongman Khalifa Haftar of a “decisive battle” to capture the capital, Tripoli. His troops are fighting for control of the capital from the U.N.-backed government led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj. Libya has been dogged by violence since 2011, following the ouster and death of former president Muammar Gaddafi. The UN has led calls for dialogue between the warring factions in order to stop the war and put the country on a recovery path.
Source:Libya Today
December 13, 2019 14:37 UTC
Benghazi-based Libyan gov’t to work with Greece to block Turkish ships
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:00 P.M.) – The Libyan Army’s Chief-of-Staff, Major-General Faraj al-Mahdawi, has revealed an agreement with Greece to block the sea lane linking Crete and the eastern sea borders of Libya to Turkish ships. Major-General Faraj al-Mahdawi said in a statement to Al-Arabiya that “ there is great coordination between Greece and Libya in order to monitor the movement of Turkish ships for oil or access to the western Libyan ports to deliver weapons to the militias, especially the Misurata port. ”The Libyan military official also spoke of “the presence of surveillance around the clock and today on the Libyan coast,” noting that “the General Command of the Libyan Army has provided all the necessary equipment and mechanisms for the sea forces to intervene if there is a breach of Libyan waters by Turkish ships and the destruction of any threat” . The Haftar-led forces began an attack in April to wrest control of Tripoli, but the attack stalled on the outskirts of the city. Haftar said: “Today we announce the decisive battle and progress towards the heart of the capital … Advance now, my heroes.”,The Libyan National Army had previously announced decisive progress and military movements, but no concrete changes in the battlefield followed.
Source:Libya Today
December 13, 2019 13:18 UTC
EU Rejects Turkey-Libya Maritime Boundary Deal Amid Escalating Dispute With Greece
EU Rejects Turkey-Libya Maritime Boundary Deal Amid Escalating Dispute With GreeceAn accord between Libya and Turkey mapping out maritime boundaries on the Mediterranean Sea is a violation of international law and Greece’s sovereignty, European Union leaders declared at a European Council summit on Dec. 12 in Brussels. On Nov. 27, Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding on maritime zones with Libya that ignores Greece, Egypt, and Cyprus—countries that also border the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, the deal does not take into consideration the fact that between Turkey and Libya lies Crete—the biggest island of Greece. The European Council unequivocally reaffirms its solidarity with Greece and Cyprus regarding these actions by Turkey,” the conclusion (pdf) states. Von der Leyen said that the EU executive fully backs Greece in its escalating dispute with Turkey over maritime zones, according to EurActiv.
Source:Libya Today
December 13, 2019 06:00 UTC
Libyan commander urges forces to advance towards central Tripoli
(Adds quote from Tripoli government)By Ayman al-WarfalliBENGHAZI, Libya Dec 12 (Reuters) - Libyan Commander Khalifa Haftar urged his forces to advance towards the centre of Tripoli on Thursday in what he said would be the "final battle" for the capital. Haftar, who heads the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), launched an offensive in April to try to take control of Tripoli which stalled on the outskirts of the city. "Today we announce the decisive battle and the advancement towards the heart of the capital to set it free ...advance now our heroes," Haftar said in a televised speech broadcast on Thursday. His forces have often issued announcements of advances or decisive military action that have been followed by little concrete change on the battlefield. Haftar is backed by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and most recently Russian mercenaries, according to diplomats and Tripoli officials.
Source:Libya Today
December 12, 2019 19:25 UTC
Libyan Commander Haftar orders forces to advance on Tripoli in ‘final battle’
Libyan Commander Khalifa Haftar urged his forces to advance towards the centre of Tripoli on Thursday in what he said would be the “final battle” for the capital. Advertising Read moreHaftar, who heads the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), launched an offensive in April to try to take control of Tripoli which stalled on the outskirts of the city. “Today we announce the decisive battle and the advancement towards the heart of the capital to set it free ...advance now our heroes,” Haftar said in a speech broadcast on Al Arabiya TV. His forces have often issued announcements of advances or decisive military action that have been followed by little concrete change on the battlefield. Haftar is backed by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and most recently Russian mercenaries, according to diplomats and Tripoli officials.
Source:Libya Today
December 12, 2019 19:18 UTC
Libya's El Feel oilfield reopens after six days of closure
Mellitah Oil and Gas Company said Wednesday that El Feel oilfield resumed operations after six days of closure due to illegal shutdown of one of the valves linked to pipelines to Mellitah. The company said in a statement that the valve was reopened in coordination with the concerned authorities, hailing the efforts of the National Oil Corporation in reopening the field quickly. The NOC said El Feel oilfield went off on December 05 and its Chairman Mustafa Sanallah described the incident was a criminal act that harms the Libyan economy. Two days ago, the NOC declared force majeure on exports from Mellitah Company due to the shutdown of El Feel. On November 27, production at El Feel oilfield was suspended as Khalifa Haftar's warplanes struck the vicinity of the field after Sabha military zone forces controlled the oilfield, and then they withdrew in the wake of Haftar's airstrike to protect the infrastructure from Haftar's airstrikes.
Source:Libya Observer
December 12, 2019 18:11 UTC
Libya's Mufti hails MoUs signed with Turkey, calls for their swift implementation
The Libyan Mufti Al-Sadiq Al-Gharyani has welcomed the MoUs in security and maritime cooperation with Turkey, calling for taking opportunity of it to defend legitimacy and thwart the aggression on Tripoli and its residents. Speaking on Tanasuh TV on Wednesday, the Mufti said "we have the right to be an ally to neighboring Turkey as a friendly alliance to support right over wrong". "We shouldn't pay attention to the statements of those who reject the agreement as they will regret them if Khalifa Haftar seized Libya under his control. Meanwhile, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier this week that his country would send troops to support the Libyan internationally recognized government of it so requested. On November 27, Erdogan and Fayez Al-Sarraj signed two MoUs in security and maritime cooperation.
Source:Libya Observer
December 12, 2019 17:15 UTC
Back in business: War-scarred Libya airport reopens after three-month closure
Flights resumed on Thursday at the Libyan capital Tripoli's sole functioning airport, after a more than three-month suspension due to repeated rocket attacks, an official said. "We have reestablished flights at the Mitiga International Airport," airport director Lotfi al-Tabib told AFP. Other Libyan airlines, including Buraq and Libyan Wings, have announced they will resume flights in the coming days. The reopening of the airport is a boon for travellers to the Libyan capital, where more than a third of the country's six-million strong population lives. Only Libyan airlines -- all banned from European airspace -- operate regular flights from Mitiga, mainly to Tunis and Istanbul.
Source:Libya Today
December 12, 2019 16:18 UTC
Flights resume at Libya’s Mitiga airport in Tripoli
TRIPOLI, Dec 12 (Reuters) – Mitiga, the only functioning airport in Libya’s capital Tripoli, resumed flight operations on Thursday after a nearly 3-1/2-month break, and is expected be fully operational by the end of this month, the transportation minister said. After the closure of the airport, located by the sea in an eastern suburb of the city, all flights to Tripoli were diverted to the coastal city of Misrata, some 200 km to the east of the capital. Two of Libya’s four air carriers operated two flights on Thursday morning. “The flights took off on time and services were available,” said transport minister Milad Matoq, who led a tour of the airport with other officials. After the destruction of Tripoli International Airport in 2014 in a civil war between armed groups vying for power, Mitiga became the area’s only airport, running domestic and international flights.
Source:Libya Today
December 12, 2019 15:24 UTC
EU leaders set to reject Turkey-Libya maritime border deal
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Source:Libya Today
December 12, 2019 14:37 UTC