Gununu: Libyan army fires back at Haftar's militias in legitimate self-defense
The Libyan Army forces opened up heavy artillery yesterday on a gathering of Haftar's militias south of Tripoli after they repeatedly opened fire in violation of the ceasefire, Libyan Army Spokesman, Colonel Mohamed Gununu has confirmed. "Such violations put lives of people residing neighbourhoods located near fighting areas at risk," Gununu stated yesterday. He underscored that orders were given to respond to any source of fire or breach.
Source:Libya Observer
February 17, 2020 09:00 UTC
Russia, Turkey and a game of regional foxes
This time, it is the Turkish fox, but the game is not limited to Syria; as its seasons revolve around Libya and Iraq. In this context, we see a fox making fun of another fox. As the ink of agreements signed with the powers is considered capable of preventing control of Iran over Syria, this fox brought another fox that has unhidden desires. Today, the Arab world wonders: “What does Turkey want from meddling in Syria and Libya? Is the Russian policy in Syria, Libya and Iraq, or even the position towards Iranians, a sort of fox making fun of another fox?
Source:Libya Today
February 17, 2020 07:52 UTC
Syrian forces seize most of Aleppo on eve of Turkey-Russia talks
Turkey, which backs rebels looking to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has been outraged since Syrian attacks in the Idlib region killed 13 Turkish troops in two weeks. It has urged Russia to stop the attacks, warning it would use military power to drive back the Syrian forces unless they withdraw by the end of the month. On Sunday, Russian warplanes mounted heavy air strikes in Aleppo province, bombing towns including Anadan, which was later seized by Syrian forces supported by Iranian-backed militias, activists reported. The Observatory said Syrian forces had seized 13 towns and villages in the area. Erdogan has said his military will drive back Syrian forces if they do not withdraw out of Idlib by the end of the month.
Source:Libya Today
February 17, 2020 01:41 UTC
Munich Security Conference warns of humanitarian disaster in Libya
The report of the Munich Security Conference has warned that Libya could turn to a Syria issue, saying it could be another humanitarian issue after Khalifa Haftar has launched an offensive against Tripoli to seize power. The report said Sunday that the efforts for ceasefire and implementation of arms embargo as well as the return to political process are facing challenges, adding that Haftar's military choice and foreign intervention hindered the efforts to end the conflict. "European Union doesn't have a unified target in Libya and has gradually detached itself from the efforts to resolve the crisis in the country. Their policy isn't going to achieve stability without finding economic and political reforms." Munich hosted Sunday the first meeting for the follow-up commission on the Berlin conference conclusions on Libya with participations by Russia, Turkey, France and Italy; among others.
Source:Libya Observer
February 16, 2020 19:18 UTC
Libyan Crimes Watch: Pro-Haftar Al-Kanyat militias killed 3 civilians based on IDs
Libyan Crimes Watch (LCW) has accused pro-Khalifa-Haftar militias of Al-Kanyat (9th Brigade) of kidnapping and killing three civilians then tossing their bodies on the road in Garabulli. "The three were kidnapped on last Friday after coming back from work in Msallata when they passed through a checkpoint for so-called Al-Kanyat of Haftar's forces. The fate of one of the men with them, who is the father of the two Libyans, Saleh Mahishi, is still unknown." LCW indicated. LCW said it was following closely the actions of Al-Kanyat militias and their repeated violations such as the kidnapping, arrests on IDs and illegal killings in Garabulli and Tarhouna, adding that since the start of 2020, it had documented ten bodies seen thrown by the roads.
Source:Libya Observer
February 16, 2020 18:33 UTC
German Foreign Minister says UN Security Council resolution on Libya is binding
The German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has confirmed that the International Berlin Follow-up Commission on Libya agrees that the UN Security Council resolution on Libya is binding to all parties. Maas added in a press conference on Sunday that the international community should talk about the violations of the arms embargo, urging the Libyan conflict parties to commit to the UN Security Council resolutions. "We are monitoring the channels through which the arms arrive in Libya. We will support any resolution that backs up the role of the European Union in ensuring the implementation of the arms embargo in Libya." In last Wednesday, the Security Council adopted a resolution that calls for ceasefire in Libya and endorsed Berlin conference conclusions.
Source:Libya Observer
February 16, 2020 18:11 UTC
Libya arms embargo is a joke, says UN envoy as ceasefire talks continue
The UN-backed arms embargo in Libya has become a joke and the country’s financial position is deteriorating rapidly, the UN deputy special envoy for Libya, Stephanie Williams, has said after foreign ministers met in Munich to try to enforce a ceasefire between the two warring sides. Last week the UN security council passed a resolution calling for enforcement of the arms embargo and a ceasefire. Williams said: “The arms embargo has become a become a joke. Many arms embargo breaches are occurring by air and by land through Egypt. The Turkish foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, said in Munich that Haftar’s aggression had to stop.
Source:Libya Today
February 16, 2020 13:08 UTC
National Centre for Disease Control reassures no suspected cases of coronavirus in Libya
The National Centre for Disease Control said that it had recorded no suspected cases of coronavirus in Libya so far. It pointed out that its results were based on data received from the alert and rapid response network of hospitals and health centers and the International Health Oversight Office at the country's outlets. The centre reassured that several steps have been put into place to confront the new disease. The measures included the formation of the National Committee, the continuous monitoring of the global epidemiological situation, the activating thermal scanning detection for travelers at all outlets, and preparing a medical directory for health workers in this field, according to the centre. It also confirmed that it had raised the degree of preparedness of the early warning network, in addition to intensifying awareness and health education campaigns.
Source:Libya Observer
February 16, 2020 13:07 UTC
Shoukry stresses importance of focusing on restoring legitimacy of Libyan institutions
Foreign Minister Sameh ShoukryCAIRO, Feb 16 (MENA) - Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry underlined on Sunday the importance of focusing on restoring the legitimacy of Libyan institutions and re-forming the Presidential Council to include all Libyan groups.Shoukry's remarks came during his participation in a ministerial meeting of the international follow-up committee which is an offshoot of the Berlin Conference on Libya.The meeting was held on the fringe of the Munich Security Conference.According to a statement to the press by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Hafez, the minister warned of attempts by certain groups to control the situation in Libya, noting that this required confronting such parties that get a boon from maintaining conflicts.He cautioned that such parties are trying to subvert efforts meant to reach a peaceful solution to the Libyan crisis to end the Libyan people's suffering.During the meeting, Shoukri stressed Egypt's firm stand on the importance of settling the Libyan crisis via a political solution that would pave the ground to restore security and stability.
Source:Libya Today
February 16, 2020 12:00 UTC
Co-Chair’s statement on the launching of the International Follow-up Committee on Libya - Libya
They reaffirmed the Berlin conference conclusions of 19 January 2020 and their unabiding commitment to their full implementation, welcoming Security Council Resolution 2510 (2020) of 12 February 2020 endorsing the Berlin Conclusions. They welcomed progress achieved by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the United Nations Support Mission to Libya (UNSMIL) in the speedy implementation of the Berlin conclusions. They strongly called upon Libyan actors to maintain the current truce and accelerate negotiations regarding a permanent ceasefire. Participants launched the International Follow-Up Committee on Libya (IFCL). The next rotating co-chair will be Italy, to be followed by the League of Arab States and the European Union.
Source:Libya Today
February 16, 2020 11:03 UTC
![2020 Libya Humanitarian Response Plan [EN/AR] - Libya](https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/styles/attachment-large/public/resources-pdf-previews/1460499-libya_hrp_2020_executivesummary_english.png?itok=LUJzdhuO)
2020 Libya Humanitarian Response Plan [EN/AR] - Libya
Launch of the 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan for LibyaTripoli, Benghazi, Sebha, 16 February 2020 – Since the outbreak of military hostilities in and around Tripoli on 4 April 2019, the already-dire humanitarian situation in Libya further deteriorated at alarming rates, affecting the living conditions of hundreds of thousands of civilians. With the aim to respond to the mounting humanitarian needs, the 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan was launched today in Tripoli, Benghazi and Sebha. The 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan is the result of comprehensive analysis, a robust consultation process and joint efforts by national and international stakeholders. The plan projects that an overall number of 900,000 people will require some form of humanitarian assistance in 2020. The Response Plan will also enable livelihoods support and improves access to basic services for the most vulnerable.
Source:Libya Today
February 16, 2020 09:45 UTC
Sarraj says support for Haftar 'prolonging' war
We show you our most important and recent visitors news details Sarraj says support for Haftar 'prolonging' war in the following articleHind Al Soulia - Riyadh - TRIPOLI — The head of Libya's UN-recognized government on Saturday warned that foreign backing for his rival Khalifa Haftar would only serve "to prolong" the conflict in the North African country. Foreign governments supporting Haftar will only "prolong the war and create deeply rooted hatred that will be difficult to overcome", Sarraj added. Russia is alleged to have sent several thousand mercenaries to support Haftar, claims denied by Moscow. In a news conference broadcast live on television, Sarraj also charged that Haftar "was not a partner for peace". A day after the UN vote, rival forces clashed in Tripoli causing civilian casualties.
Source:Libya Today
February 16, 2020 09:15 UTC
Russia managing Libya war at the highest level: Erdogan
We show you our most important and recent visitors news details Russia managing Libya war at the highest level: Erdogan in the following articleHind Al Soulia - Riyadh - ANKARA — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Russia of managing the Libyan conflict "at the highest level", local media reported Saturday, as Ankara-Moscow tensions mount. "Russia is managing the war there right now at the highest level," Erdogan said, according to the Hurriyet daily. Turkey and Russia are currently engaged in a war of words over Syria where the two countries support opposing sides. Likewise in Libya, Ankara supports the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli while Russia backs military strongman Khalifa Haftar. "They are presently managing Wagner," Erdogan told Turkish journalists on board his plane after a visit to Pakistan this week.
Source:Libya Today
February 16, 2020 09:01 UTC
Powers renew pledge to uphold Libya arms embargo
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said they spoke “very openly” about recent violations. × Loading&hellp; {{title}} {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}} {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}{{html}} Thanks for being a subscriber. × Sign Up Today and Support Local Journalism Enjoy more articles from Northwest Indiana’s Most Trusted Information Source. Since the Berlin summit, the rival Libyan military factions have met in Geneva in a U.N.-led effort to forge a lasting truce. A first round of talks ended without officials signing an agreement, but Maas said a second round will begin in Geneva on Tuesday.
Source:Libya Today
February 16, 2020 08:37 UTC
LIA welcomes UN's decision to review sanctions on Libyan frozen assets
The Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) has welcomed the Security Council's agreement to consider amending the sanctions system for Libyan frozen assets, so as to contribute to enhancing their protection. LIA issued a statement Friday saying that it will continue to implement its strategy for comprehensive transformation, governance, and administrative reform. It pointed out that it does not demand the complete lifting of the freeze at the current time, but rather to introduce more flexibility to hedge against any decline in the performance of its assets under the freeze.
Source:Libya Observer
February 16, 2020 08:15 UTC