Western war on Libya

[angelburst29]

Haftar wanted to take another two days to discuss the ceasefire deal but seemed positive about the Peace talks. Another Summit will be held in Germany on Sunday January 19th. I think, Turkey's recent activity in Libya might be complicating this situation because Erdogan is against Haftar and his pursuit to take Tripoli?

Libya peace talks in Moscow fall short of ceasefire deal

Libya's warring leaders made some progress at indirect peace talks in Moscow on Monday but failed to agree on an open-ended ceasefire to end a nine-month war over the capital Tripoli.

Libya talks in Moscow progress but fail to get ceasefire deal: Russian foreign minister

Talks aimed at agreeing an unconditional and open-ended ceasefire in Libya failed to achieve a breakthrough on Monday despite making good progress, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters.

Libya's Haftar leaves Moscow without signing ceasefire: TASS

Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army, has left Moscow without signing a ceasefire agreement drafted at talks in Russia on Monday, the TASS news agency cited the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying on Tuesday.

Russia: Libya's Haftar is taking two days to discuss ceasefire deal - Ifax
Russia's defense ministry said on Tuesday that Khalifa Haftar, commander of forces in eastern Libya, had been positive about a ceasefire deal drafted at talks in Moscow and is taking two days to discuss it, the Interfax news agency reported.

Erdogan says talks between Turkish, Russian, Libyan delegations going well

Talks between Libya's warring parties in Moscow, supported by Turkish and Russian officials, are going positively, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, adding that Ankara was working to ensure the truce became permanent.

Turkey says Haftar's decision to skip Libya truce deal shows who wants war

Khalifa Haftar's decision to not sign a ceasefire agreement with Libya's internationally recognized government shows who wants war and who wants peace in the country, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday.

Turkey won't shun 'teaching a lesson' to Libyan commander Haftar if attacks continue

Turkey will not refrain from "teaching a lesson" to Khalifa Haftar if his eastern Libyan forces continue attacks against the internationally recognized government in Tripoli, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

EU welcomes Libya ceasefire, says U.N. must lead reconciliation
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed on Monday a ceasefire in Libya initiated by Turkey and Russia, but cautioned that the United Nations must lead the process of rebuilding the country.

Germany plans to hold Libya summit on Jan 19: participants
Germany plans to hold a summit aimed at plotting a path to peace in Libya on Jan. 19, two participants in the preparatory negotiations said on Monday,

 

[Ca.]

What could go wrong?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1218487061130416128

I hope I’m wrong but, Some day they will be walking the streets of #Europe ( #Roma , #Paris , #Berlin, #Madrid.... ) enjoy #Erdogan’s bloody hands the Headcuters are here !!!! #GNA #Turkey #Libya #Terrorist

https://twitter.com/x/status/1218529065315000320

https://twitter.com/x/status/1218533949372280832

In Libya, putschist Hafter militias prevent oil exports from the important ports of Libya.
"This move will have devastating consequences for the Libyan people," the UN's Libyan representative said, explaining that they are deeply concerned about the situation.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1218370090799857664

Underwhelming Turkish Invasion Of Libya

Jan 16, 2020 South Front

 

[Voyageur]

If it was missed, there is an interesting SOTT Focus on Libya by author Steve Brown (Jan 17) to check out. There were a number of things noted, a lot dealing with oil, for Turkey. It also made me think of Algeria, who as Brown says, sits in the background (with their interests).

Russia's Big Gamble in Libya

First, the background. When the United States abandoned the Iran agreement, that left Turkey's oil imports adrift due to newly imposed US Treasury sanctions on Iranian oil exports. By December 2018, Turkey was forced to look elsewhere for its oil...

www.sott.net

...Turkey's foray into Libyan oil ran into trouble by June of 2018. Turkey objected to LNA rogue oil deals free of NOC oversight, where the NOC's mandate was to enforce the UN arms embargo by disbursing funds only for civilian government use. Then the LNA's April offensive resulted in air strikes on Misrata and the west, impacting Turkey's oil imports. The fall of Sirte and LNA strikes on NOC offices and the Zawiya oil terminal late in 2019 dealt serious blows to Turkeys' oil ambitions in Libya.

Warlord Haftar's LNA advance was assisted by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and France. Then, Algeria experienced a change in leadership and joined the fray. Algeria aligned with the GNA versus Haftar's LNA (recall that Haftar is backed by France) while Algeria publicly condemned the Turkish troop deployment. Algeria is an oil power and has oil interests in west Libya too and wields more influence in the Middle East and North Africa than commonly perceived, usually in the background.

From the last link above on Algeria:

Since Algeria's hard-won independence from France in 1962, the army has operated as "a state within a state", wielding discreet but vast political influence, said Kamal Cheklat, Maghreb specialist at the Centre for Sociological and Political Research in Paris (Cresppa).

"The Hirak wants to question all that," he said. That would represent "a real break in the order of things established by the Algerian military a long time ago."

When it comes to the 'order of things,' the order between politics and the military, what countries really have a break in this (e.g. "But, Hammoudi warned, the future president "will have no power over major issues. He will receive injunctions (from the army), sometimes implicit -- as has always been the case.")


Brown continues from the fist article (some bold in original article):

Now, after the fall of Sirte LNA forces were approaching Tripoli. The LNA had taken most of Tripolitania with only GNA pockets remaining. So the GNA's situation was precarious by November. It seemed as if LNA victory was assured and civil war in Tripolitania would be the grim result. Then with some urgency, Turkey promised to deploy troops to support the GNA. Rumors held that Algeria's troops would secure its border and its oil interests in Libya, too.

By January the extreme gravity of the situation was apparent. The threat verged on a humanitarian disaster. Tripolitania anticipated destruction at Haftar's hands, while Europe, Turkey, and Greece would face a new wave of Libyan migrants. Algeria must foresee the necessity to close its extended border by further force of arms, and to assist Tunisia, thus exacerbating tensions with Morocco. Only a respected power with authority and regional influence could salvage Libya from impending doom.

The power to save Libya from more violence was not the United States -- which caused Libya's catastrophe in the first place -- but Russia. Russia and Turkey called for a cease-fire. At first Haftar resisted that call since he could smell victory. But Haftar eventually relented and agreed to the cease-fire at Russia and Germany's insistence, although he has not yet signed it. Several unknowns arise.

...Next consideration is Turkey which seems to be removing itself evermore from Washington's orbit. A de facto removal of Turkey from NATO will call into question the credibility of an already questionable alliance. Perhaps Washington will retaliate with more sanctions versus a perceived NATO 'rogue' member? And will Turkey abide by the ceasefire too?

Finally, Russia. Russia now courts Turkey while alienating Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, France, and Israel... and for that matter, Warlord Haftar. That's because Russia's agreement with Turkey implicitly recognizes the controversial Libya-Turkey energy pact while Egypt, Greece, Israel, Cyprus, and France find their own energy ambitions in the east Med now marginalized.

Russia courting Turkey and Russia's virtual switch to the GNA side is bound to anger Washington. Russia is taking a huge gamble that this ceasefire will hold while a political settlement is sought. Washington would love nothing more than to cajole Russia for arranging a peaceful political settlement... anywhere. And US covert services may even attempt to destabilize Libya again for that reason. Meanwhile let's hope for the sake of the people of Libya that does not occur and a political settlement is achieved.

These twists and turns are hard to follow, and it is not always just about oil and gas, although they are factors: these interconnections, legal agreements, religious factions, different countries designs, weapons sales and history et cetera et cetera, and then is the US, who will in someways be answerable to Israel in the region and whereby they both play deceptive rolls, be playing to different ends? It can be baffling. Reminds me of Suskind:

"The aide said that guys like me were 'in what we call the reality-based community,' which he defined as people who 'believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.' I nodded and murmured something about enlightenment principles and empiricism. He cut me off. 'That's not the way the world really works anymore,' he continued. 'We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality - judiciously, as you will - we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors ... and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.'"

One thing, Suskind quote aside and not the how of it, is that this piece of the earth named Libya is very import to control, and they (conjoined or otherwise) do not want the tribes of Libya controlling their own home as has been seen.

The Moriarty's also posted this on Jan 16:

BREAKING - Turkey Begins Military Invasion of Libya | libyanwarthetruth.com

libyanwarthetruth.com

BREAKING - Turkey Begins Military Invasion of Libya

Submitted by JoanneM on Thu, 01/16/2020 - 3:01pm

BREAKING NOW From the intelligence of the great tribes of Libya and alliance of the Libyan people.

Erdogan has begun to move his army into Tripoli. I was passed a document of registration of an African Airlines. This is the FIRST flight coming into LIbya carrying Turkish soldiers. You will see a picture of the document below the photos of the Turkish ship below.

Next update: a photo of a ship posted below is a ship that docked into Tripoli harbor. The ship named the SINGLE EAGLE # 8708830 bearing the flag of PANAMA docked last night in the port of Tripoli coming from TURKEY and listed on the manifest that it was heading to ALGERIA before changing its course.to Libya at the last minute. Ship loaded with men and weapons from Turkey to attack the legitimate people of Libya and their legitimate army.

**UNDERSTAND THIS** ALL PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW IN LIBYA ARE BECAUSE OF TURKEY AND ITS ILLEGAL INTERVENTION. THE UN IS THE CAUSE OF THIS STARTING WITH THEIR INSTALLATION OF THE GNA MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD REGIME (RUN BY TURKEY) IN TRIPOLI IN 2015. TO CONTINUE TO GIVE THIS UNELECTED AND ILLEGITIMATE RADICAL REGIME RECOGNITION IS TO CONTINUE AGAINST 99% OF THE LIBYAN PEOPLE AND TO CONTINUE THE PROBLEMS IN LIBYA.. WHY HAS THE UN NOT REMOVED IT RECOGNITION OF THEIR ILLEGAL AND RADICAL DICTATOR REGIME USING TERRORISTS TO KILL INNOCENT CIVILIANS PROVES THE UN IS A CRIMINAL AND ILLEGITIMATE ORGANIZATION AND HAS NO INTENT TO HELP THE INNOCENTS OF LIBYA - THE UN GIVES NO EAR OR RESPECT TO THE LEGITIMATE LIBYAN PEOPLE - THUS THE UN HAS FAILED UPHOLDING IT'S OWN CHARTER AND SHOULD BE DISBANDED AND IGNORED BY THE REST OF THE WORLD.

Below is a formal statement from the Great Tribes of Libya:
_________________________________________________________________________
"The problem now in Libya is that the militias recruit children and arm them and use mercenaries from Chad and Syria. In fact, all this with Turkish support for these militias without eradicating them will not be stable and politically resolved in Libya.
In addition, without lifting sanctions on all supporters of Muammar Gaddafi's regime, who were sanctioned since 2011, there will be no stability and peace in Libya.
Actually, without presidential and parliamentary elections, there will be no stability in Libya"
__________________________________________________________________________
All countries in N. Africa and the Mediterranean must rise up and STOP this attack by Turkey on the legitimate Libyan people. This is an attack on them as well and don't doubt Erdogans intent to re make the Ottoman empire. Erdogan openly goes against all international law to kill and invade sovereign nations to create his dream of the Ottoman Empire, he will not stop with Libya.

The time to stop and END Erdogan and his growth of Islamic radicals (Muslim Brotherhood) is NOW, the world cannot not allow for his crimes against humanity.

All Libyan trouble falls completely at the feet of the illegitimate activities of the United Nations.

 

[angelburst29]

By all appearances, the Berlin International Conference on the Libyan crisis went well.

According to Russia’s top diplomat, the five-hour Berlin conference was preceded by four months of preparatory efforts, including five preliminary rounds and consultations of senior officials.

Sarraj and Haftar were invited to Berlin conference at Russia’s request - Lavrov
https://tass.com/politics/1110501

BERLIN, January 19, 2020 - The leaders of Libya’s conflicting parties were invited to the international conference in Berlin at Russia’s request, Russia’s acting Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Sunday.

"It was thanks to our insistence that the organizers retreated from their original plan to convene a meeting without the Libyan parties and invited the Libyan leaders to the conference," Lavrov said, adding he was speaking about Prime Minister of Libya’s Government of National Accord Fayez Sarraj and Commander of the Lybian National Army Khalifa Haftar.

"The number of participants from among Libya’s neighbors was increased also at our initiative," he said, adding it is important to take into account these nations’ interests to ensure the sustainability of any agreements.

According to Russia’s top diplomat, the five-hour Berlin conference was preceded by four months of preparatory efforts, including five preliminary rounds and consultations of senior officials. As a result, the conference has yielded a rather detailed final document with recommendations and initiatives on settling the Libyan crisis.

Thus, in his words, the document has a section dedicated to efforts in the sphere of security, "including the necessity to ensure a lasting ceasefire." It also has a section on the return to the political process, on resolving Libya’s economic problems ensuring access of all Libya’s parties - religious, ethnic and political groups - to natural resources. "It has a section on humanitarian problems, human rights, and a section about support to all these efforts from the international community under the United Nations aegis," he said.

The high-level conference on Libya was held on Sunday in the German capital city Berlin. It was attended by the leaders of ten nations, including Russian, Turkish and French presidents and the UK prime minister. United Nations secretary general, US secretary of state, representatives from Algeria, Egypt, China and the United Arab Emirates also took part.

Participants in Berlin conference on Libya have agreed text of final document — source
Participants in Berlin conference on Libya have agreed text of final document — source

© AP Photo/Michael Sohn

Participants in the international conference on Libya in Berlin have agreed the text of the conference’s final document, several diplomatic sources told TASS on Sunday. "The text has been agreed," a source said.

As follows from the draft available to TASS, the settlement process will be divided into six ‘baskets,’ namely ceasefire, arms embargo, political process, security sector reform, economic and financial reform, respect for international humanitarian law and human rights.

It also calls for noninterference into the armed conflict in that country and urges the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on countries violating the arms embargo.

When the statement is adopted, a special International Follow-Up committee will be established to oversee the implementation of the Berlin summit’s decisions.

A high-level international conference on Libya is underway on Sunday in the German capital city Berlin. Along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the conference is attended by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisis, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, Crown Prince Of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed Al Nahyan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, President of the European Council Charles Michel. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles, director of the Office of Foreign Affairs of the Communist Party of China Yang Jeichi, Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat. Leaders of Libya’s conflicting parties, Prime Minister of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj and Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar also arrived in Berlin.

Berlin summit on Libya did not discuss any sanctions: Merkel

World leaders at a Libya conference in Berlin did not discuss possible sanctions for violations of an international arms embargo, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday.

Putin: Don't lose hope that Libya conflict will be solved

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday said he hoped that the Berlin summit on Libya could bring further progress and that Moscow's peace efforts had yielded first results.

If it was missed, there is an interesting SOTT Focus on Libya by author Steve Brown (Jan 17) to check out. There were a number of things noted, a lot dealing with oil, for Turkey. It also made me think of Algeria, who as Brown says, sits in the background (with their interests).

...Turkey's foray into Libyan oil ran into trouble by June of 2018. Turkey objected to LNA rogue oil deals free of NOC oversight, where the NOC's mandate was to enforce the UN arms embargo by disbursing funds only for civilian government use. Then the LNA's April offensive resulted in air strikes on Misrata and the west, impacting Turkey's oil imports. The fall of Sirte and LNA strikes on NOC offices and the Zawiya oil terminal late in 2019 dealt serious blows to Turkeys' oil ambitions in Libya.

Turkey's oil ambitions off Cyprus, as well.

Turkey spars with EU over fresh drilling off Cyprus

Turkey called on Sunday for the European Union to end what it said was the bloc's prejudice against Turkish Cypriots, defending its launch of a fresh round of hydrocarbons drilling off the Mediterranean island.

Libya summit calls for all parties to refrain from oil hostilities
A summit in Germany bringing together foreign powers backing rival camps in Libya has called for all parties to refrain from hostilities against oil facilities, a draft of the final communiques showed on Sunday.

Libya’s Haftar accepts Putin’s invitation to come to Russia for settlement talks — Kremlin
Libya’s Haftar accepts Putin’s invitation to come to Russia for settlement talks — Kremlin

The Libyan National Army commander is expected to visit Moscow after the Berlin conference due on January 19, according to a Libyan diplomatic source.

 

[angelburst29]

Some background ... I came across a report on Reuter's last night, of Italy seizing a cargo ship headed to Libya. The cargo had been loaded from the Turkish port of Mersin.

Italy arrests ship's captain over alleged Libya arms trafficking
Italian authorities have arrested the captain of a Lebanese-flagged cargo ship which was seized in the port of Genoa on suspicion of trafficking arms to Libya, including tanks and artillery, the city's chief prosecutor said on Friday.

Erdogan has been accused in the past of shipping military supplies to Libya in support to Fayez al-Serraj and stealing oil. When checking for additional information, I came across this article but what is more important - the site itself, seems to be an investigative site. Tons of information on Turkey and Erdogan's activities.

Turkey’s Erdoğan continues to fuel war in Libya - Nordic Monitor

The main site:
Home - Nordic Monitor

Libya's Haftar says any ceasefire would be contingent on Turkish withdrawal: RIA

Khalifa Haftar, Libya's eastern military commander, said he would be ready for a ceasefire if Turkish and Syrian mercenaries left the country and Ankara stopped supplying weapons to Libya's internationally recognized government in Tripoli, RIA reported.

Libya's Serraj says talk about resuming peace negotiations has been overtaken by events

Libya's internationally recognized Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj said on Wednesday talk about resuming peace negotiations has been overtaken by events on the ground amid ongoing shelling from eastern factions trying to take Tripoli.

 

[angelburst29]

I get the impression, Erdogan makes deals or steals foreign oil (Libya/Syria/Iraq), to use the profits to gain entry into those same Countries with his Military, to further his personal agenda's. While completely controlling Turkey, by arresting and jailing those who he feels opposes him, he's trying to control the Countries he shares Borders with - using their own (stolen) resources to finance his ventures. A parasite!

Eastern Libya forces say 16 Turkish soldiers killed in fighting
Forces loyal to Libyan eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar said on Sunday they had killed 16 Turkish soldiers in recent weeks, a day after Turkey acknowledged it had lost several "martyrs" in combat in the north African country.

U.N. says Libya ceasefire talks back on track in Geneva
The United Nations said on Friday ceasefire talks were back on track between the forces fighting over Libya's capital, days after the internationally recognized government pulled out of the negotiations as its foes shelled Tripoli's port.

A play on the word, "Tripoli".

* Tripoli's port in Libya
* Tripoli's city in Lebanon

Two wounded in Lebanon's Tripoli after bomb blast in residential building: sources
Two people were wounded after a bomb exploded in a residential building in the Lebanese city of Tripoli on Sunday, security sources said.

 

[angelburst29]

The Coronavirus pandemic has taken center stage in International and State-wide media outlets, crippling coverage on other important events and news worthy happenings around the World. Since mid-February, the implementation of "a Ceasefire" between Haftar's LNA and the Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Fayez Sarraj has been fragile, with out breaks of fighting from both sides. Turkey's support for the GNA in supplying arms and military assistance has added even more instability to the Region.

Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar on Monday declared a landmark United Nations-brokered agreement to unite the country “a thing of the past,” and pledged his authorities would move toward creating a new government.

Libya’s Haftar declares UN unity deal ‘thing of the past’

Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar said the political agreement destroyed the country.

April 27, 2020 - “The political agreement destroyed the country,” he said. “We will work to create the conditions for building permanent civic institutions.”

Haftar, commander of Libya’s east-based forces, controls most of eastern and southern Libya. The administration in Tripoli rules just a corner of the country’s west.

While Haftar has not yet dissolved any state institutions, such as the eastern-based House of Representatives, he said his armed forces “accept the people’s mandate to run the country.”

In a speech last week, Haftar asked Libyans to hold demonstrations and give him a mandate to rule. Despite a curfew imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, crowds thronged the streets of Benghazi and chanted slogans against the rival Tripoli administration.

The UN set up the Tripoli-based government, known as the Government of National Accord, in 2015 following the emergence of two rival centers of government — one allied with Haftar in the eastern city of Tobruk and one in Tripoli.

The agreement, frequently condemned by Haftar and his supporters, bestows international legitimacy on a western government under the leadership of technocrat Fayez Sarraj.

It also acknowledges the House of Representatives based in Tobruk as the country’s official legislature and grants consultative powers to the previous parliament based in Tripoli. Both bodies are largely powerless.

The agreement has so far failed to bring unity or stability to the divided country. The abrupt resignation of UN envoy Ghassan Salame earlier this year cast further doubt on the fate of Libya’s hamstrung political process.

Meanwhile, Haftar has ratcheted up his military campaign to seize Tripoli. Both sides have ignored calls by the UN and the West for a cease-fire so authorities can direct resources to the coronavirus pandemic. In his speech, Haftar said his forces would continue their offensive “until the end.”

Libya's eastern leader Haftar says army to take formal control
Libya's eastern-based military leader Khalifa Haftar said on Monday his Libyan National Army (LNA) was accepting a "popular mandate" to rule the country, apparently brushing aside the civilian authorities that nominally govern eastern Libya.

Russian FM Source Says Moscow ‘Surprised’ at Haftar’s Claims of LNA’s Control Over Libya

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

April 28, 2020 - Russia finds surprising the claims by Libyan National Army (LNA) commander, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, that the LNA assumes leadership over the country, and keeps insisting that the crisis cannot be solved militarily, a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

“This is surprising. There are decisions of the summit in Berlin, and, most importantly, the UN Security Council’s Resolution 2510, which should first of all be implemented by Libyans themselves, with support from the international community and the UN secretary-general,” the Russian Foreign Ministry source said.

“We favor continuation of the inclusive intra-Libyan dialogue as part of the political process, there is no military solution to the conflict,” the source continued, adding that Moscow maintains contact with all the parties to the Libyan conflict, including Haftar.Libyan National Army (LNA) commander, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, announced on Monday the LNA’s withdrawal from the 2015 Skhirat agreement, which had led to the formation of the United Nations-backed Government of National Accord. He also said that the LNA was now taking control over the country.

Libya is split between two rival factions that have been battling for years for the control of the North African country: Haftar is the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), which controls the east of the country, while the Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Fayez Sarraj is in control of Libya’s west.

Russia disapproves of Haftar's power grab in Libya: Ifax cites foreign minister
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow did not approve of Libya's eastern-based military leader Khalifa Haftar's move to seize control of the country, the Interfax news agency reported.

Russia still committed to diplomatic process in Libya after Haftar power grab
Russia believes a political and diplomatic process is the only way to resolve the conflict in Libya, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, after Libya's eastern-based military leader Khalifa Haftar moved to seize control of the country on Monday.

Kremlin: Russia still in contact with Libya participants, wants diplomatic communication
The Kremlin said on Tuesday Russia was still in contact with both warring sides in the conflict in Libya, adding that it believes the only route to peace is through political and diplomatic communication between all parties.

Europe calls for humanitarian truce in Libya: statement
The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Italy and the EU's top diplomat made a joint call on Saturday for a humanitarian truce in Libya, saying all sides must resume peace talks.

Libya's GNA focused on Tripoli battle, interior minister says

Libya's internationally recognized government is focused on trying to push its enemies out of artillery range of Tripoli after making advances in the main western battle fronts last week, the interior minister said.

East Libya has expelled 1,400 refugees and migrants this year: U.N.
Authorities in rebel-held eastern Libya have expelled 1,400 migrants and refugees so far this year, in violation of international law, the U.N. rights office said on Tuesday.

 

[angelburst29]

The United Arab Emirates on Thursday called on all Libyan parties to commit to the U.N.-supervised political process to end the war, while at the same time saluting the eastern Libya based-army led by General Khalifa Haftar.

UAE calls on all Libyan parties to commit to political process, renews support to Haftar

April 30, 2020 - The UAE statement did not comment directly on Haftar’s declaration on Monday that his army would take power, ripping up a 2015 political agreement that has been the basis for all international peacemaking efforts.

The UAE “commends the Libyan National Army for conducting anti-terror operations,” a statement by the Emirati Foreign Ministry said, expressing “its categorical rejection of the Turkish military intervention” in support of the rival, Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).

The statement expressed the UAE’s support for a political solution based on the Berlin conference, calling on “all parties to commit to the political process under the supervision of the United Nations.”

Responding to the UAE’s statement, Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hami Aksoy said the remarks were an attempt by the UAE to “hide their two-faced politics” and said it was providing aid to “putschists” in Libya.

Turkey backs the GNA, Libya’s internationally recognised government, and has signed a military cooperation agreement to help it repel an Haftar’s offensive. Ankara has repeatedly urged world powers to stop supporting Haftar’s forces, which it deems “putschists.”

“The UAE’s actions disrupting international peace, security and stability not just in Libya, but all the region, including Yemen, Syria and Africa, are well known to the international community,” Aksoy said in a statement.

“We call on the UAE leadership to avoid taking a hostile stance against our country and to know its place,” he said, and added that solving the Libyan crisis hinged on backing the GNA and adhering to the 2015 political agreement.

 

[angelburst29]

Turkey said on Sunday it would deem the forces of Libyan General Khalifa Haftar "legitimate targets" if what it termed their attacks on its interests and diplomatic missions in Libya persisted.

Turkey threatens to target Haftar's forces in Libya if attacks persist

May 10, 2020 - Turkey backs Libya’s internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA). It has signed a military cooperation deal with the GNA, which has been trying to fend off an offensive by Haftar’s forces.

Ankara views Haftar’s forces, which are backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia, as “putschists”.

“If our missions and our interests in Libya are targeted, we will deem Haftar’s forces legitimate targets,” the foreign ministry said in a statement in which it also slammed the United Nations for not taking action over Haftar’s attacks.

“It is unacceptable for the United Nations to remain silent against this carnage any longer,” it said. “Countries providing military, financial and political aid to Haftar are responsible for the suffering that the people of Libya are enduring and the chaos and instability the country is being dragged into.”

It also said attacks on Tripoli’s Mitiga airport early on Saturday, part of an intensified barrage of artillery fire on the capital, were war crimes.

On Thursday, Turkey and Italy said the area around their embassies in Tripoli had been shelled. A spokesman for Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) denied that the force was responsible for that bombardment.

Massive bombardment hits Tripoli as water supplies threatened

A withering bombardment shook Tripoli on Sunday as the eastern-based forces of Khalifa Haftar fought overnight for new territory in the southern suburbs after losing ground recently around the city.

 

[angelburst29]

Libya frontline pullback puts eastern offensive in question
May 19, 2020 - TUNIS - The Libyan National Army (LNA) of eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar said it had pulled back from some Tripoli frontlines on Wednesday, calling into question its ability to sustain a year-long offensive aimed at seizing the capital.

The LNA had announced overnight it was withdrawing 2-3 km (1-2 miles) from all positions in the city as a humanitarian gesture, but its fighters remained at some frontlines in the city.

The decision to withdraw follows a series of military setbacks that underscore the shifting dynamics of the conflict since Turkey intervened in January to help the U.N.-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) stave off Haftar’s assault.

Turkey’s backing is most visible in the new balance of power in the air, with drones striking LNA forces repeatedly and a GNA spokesman saying that six Russian-supplied air defence systems had been destroyed on Wednesday alone.

Backed by the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Egypt, Haftar’s LNA still holds all of eastern Libya and much of the south, including most oil facilities, but its presence in the northwest, where Libya’s population is concentrated, has come under intense pressure.

The GNA last month took a string of small towns linking Tripoli to the Tunisian border. On Monday it took Watiya, the LNA’s only airbase near Tripoli and a big strategic prize. On Tuesday it took three small towns to the southwest.

On Wednesday morning, there were clashes at Asaba, south of Tripoli, while rockets were striking the LNA’s most important stronghold in the region, the town of Tarhouna, an eyewitness said.

Turkey warns against attacks on its presence in Libya

Ankara has provided military support to the internationally recognised Government of National Accord in Libya.

May 21, 2020 - ANKARA - Turkey warned on Thursday (May 21) that attacks on its interests in Libya by military commander Khalifa Haftar's forces will have "very grave consequences", after advances by the country's Turkish-backed government.

Ankara has provided military support to the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya, which has been battling to fend off a year-long offensive by Mr Haftar's forces to take control of the capital Tripoli.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said Mr Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) had received warplanes with "foreign support" and that they had vowed to target Turkish positions in Libya with an air campaign.

"In the event Turkish interests in Libya are targeted, this will have very grave consequences," Mr Aksoy said. Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin was quoted as saying by broadcaster NTV that attacks on Turkish positions would prompt heavy retaliation.

In what could be their most significant advance for nearly a year, the GNA took control of the Watiya air base south-west of Tripoli on Monday.


Russian, Turkish foreign ministers back Libya ceasefire in call: Moscow
May 21, 2020 - MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu backed an immediate ceasefire in Libya during a phone call on Thursday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The two diplomats also supported the resumption of the United Nations political process in the North African country, the statement said.

They spoke a day after the Libyan National Army of eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar said it had pulled back from some Tripoli frontlines, calling into question its ability to sustain a year-long offensive aimed at seizing the capital.

 

[youlik]

Spoiler: Russian spelling

Ливийская национальная армия начинает самую масштабную атаку за всю историю войны в Ливии

The Libyan national army launches the largest attack in the history of the war in Libya

The Libyan national army has begun regrouping its forces to launch one of the largest attacks in the history of the Libyan conflict, and the goal of Haftar's army will not be Tripoli at all, but the city of Misrata, which the LNA proposes to completely destroy in case of resistance from the forces of the government of national unity, the Turkish military and Pro-Turkish militants.

"In an interview with Sputnik Arabic, a military source from the LNA, which is commanded by field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, it was said that the Libyan national army is preparing to launch a major campaign to capture the key city of Misrata in the Northern region of the country. An unnamed military source said the Libyan national army would use all its capabilities to capture Misrata in the next 48 hours. The source indicated that " the leaders of the Libyan national army in the General command are preparing to organize an attack on the city in order to eliminate armed militias and groups belonging to the Muslim brotherhood, which controls the city and occupies its headquarters, which received Turkish support through the airport and ports located in the city of Misrata." This operation of the Libyan national army comes at a time when their enemies, The government of national unity, are preparing to launch their own major operation to capture the strategic city of Tarhun in Western Libya," al - Masdar News reports.

Experts believe that if the Libyan national army really manages to seize control of Misrata, the war in Libya by the PNE forces will be completely lost, since today the assault on the Libyan capital is complicated only by pne air strikes from the air base in Misrata, where, by the way, Turkish drones are also based.
Ливийская национальная армия начинает самую масштабную атаку за всю историю войны в Ливии

 

[angelburst29]

(Note - this next article refers to Reuters news agency and Al Jazeera and may be bias and contain half truths? This report is from a Ukrainian news site Unian.) Russia has repeatedly stated, it has no military in Libya but there may be mercenaries that are Russian but they were not sent by the Russian Government.

Russian mercenaries evacuate from western Libya after Haftar losses
25 May 2020 - UN-recognized government forces have, with Turkish help, made sudden strides in recent weeks, seizing a string of towns, capturing the strategically important airbase, and destroying several Russian-made air defense systems.

Russian fighters in Libya were flown out to a town south of Tripoli by their eastern-based allies after retreating from front lines at the capital, Tripoli, according to a local official.

The reported departure of the Russians on Sunday was another blow to renegade eastern commander Khalifa Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) and his foreign allies, who have been trying to take the capital for more than a year from the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), Al Jazeera reports.

The reported departure of the Russians on Sunday was another blow to renegade eastern commander Khalifa Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) and his foreign allies, who have been trying to take the capital for more than a year from the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), Al Jazeera reports.

The Russian fighters allied to the LNA retreated with their heavy equipment from the capital to the airport of Bani Walid, a town some 150km southeast of Tripoli, said Salem Alaywan, Bani Walid's mayor.

He told Reuters news agency the Russians were then flown out of western Libya to Jufra, a remote central district and LNA stronghold.

"They [the Russians] were flown in three military planes to Jufra, and their military vehicles were driven there," he said.

LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari denied any foreigners were fighting with his force.

But the presence of the Russian fighters has been widely documented by diplomats and journalists, and photographs purporting to show Russians in Bani Walid have been posted on social media.

According to a leaked United Nations report, Russian private military contractor Wagner Group deployed about 1,200 mercenaries to Libya to strengthen Haftar's forces. They have been identified by their equipment, typically reserved for Russia's armed forces.

UN monitors identified more than two dozen flights between Russia and eastern Libya from August 2018 to August 2019 by civilian aircraft "strongly linked to or owned by" Wagner Group or related companies.

Haftar's forces are backed by Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. The GNA is supported by Syrian fighters allied to Turkey, while Haftar is also using Sudanese fighters.

The GNA has, with Turkish help, made sudden strides in recent weeks, seizing a string of towns from the LNA, capturing the strategically important al-Watiya airbase, and destroying several Russian-made air defense systems.

"The withdrawal [of the Russians] from the greater Tripoli area is a very meaningful event because it deprives the LNA of its most effective, best-equipped foreign fighting forces on that key front," said Jalel Harchaoui, research fellow at the Clingendael Institute.

"Why they pulled out now is a subject of speculation, but you have to take into account that during the past week Turkey has really upgraded its aerial capabilities in Libya and has significantly weakened the strategic advantage that the Russian mercenaries provided," said Emad Badi, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council with a research focus on Libya.

Badi said it was "obvious" that there was "some form of backdoor deal between Turkey and Libya in terms of allowing these mercenaries" to pull out.

U.S. military says Russia flew 14 MiG 29s and Su-24s to Libya
May 27, 2020 - Russian military personnel flew MiG 29 and SU-24 fighter planes to a Libyan airbase escorted by other Russian fighter jets, the U.S. military said on Wednesday, detailing a deployment of air power that could have a big impact on Libya’s war.

Moscow backs the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) of Khalifa Haftar in its conflict against the Government of National Accord (GNA), which is recognised by the United Nations and backed by Turkey. Libya is subject to a U.N. arms embargo.

LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari denied that new jets had arrived, calling it “media rumours and lies”. Last week he said the LNA had repaired four old Libyan jets for use and announced the start of a major new air campaign.

A Russian member of parliament earlier on Wednesday said Russia had not sent any military personnel to Libya and the upper house of parliament had received no request to approve such a dispatch.

On Tuesday, the U.S. military’s Africa Command said it assessed that Russia had flown fighter jets to Libya via Syria to support Russian mercenaries fighting alongside the LNA.

It said the jets were repainted in Syria to remove Russian Federation Air Force markings.

In a series of Tweets on Wednesday the U.S. military added that the jets had been flown by Russian military personnel and were escorted to Libya by Russian fighter planes, indicating a higher level of involvement by Moscow.

They first landed in Tobruk, in eastern Libya, and then flew to Jufra in central Libya, an LNA stronghold, the Tweets said. They added that 14 newly unmarked Russian fighter planes had been delivered to Jufra.

Foreign powers in Libya risk ever bloodier stalemate
May 29, 2020 - Russian and Turkish officials spoke last week and issued a statement agreeing on the need for a ceasefire, a possible sign they have hashed out a backroom deal to avert a direct confrontation after the arrival of the Russian jets.

The jets at Jufra could now act as a deterrent to a new offensive by the GNA once it has consolidated its gains in the west said Wolfram Lacher of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

“It appears the purpose of these fighter jets and the redeployment to central and southern Libya now is to stabilize and freeze the military situation,” he said.

Russia says Libya ceasefire in tatters, situation deteriorating: agencies
May 29, 2020 - Russia’s foreign ministry said on Friday the situation in Libya was continuing to deteriorate and that a ceasefire there was in tatters, the RIA news agency reported.

The ministry’s spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said outside help to players in the conflict had altered the balance of power on the ground in Libya, the Interfax news agency reported.

Russia is in contact with all sides in the conflict and will insist the conflict is resolved through diplomatic means, she was cited as saying.

Bangladeshis killed in Libya were abducted and tortured, Foreign Ministry says
May 29, 2020 - The 30 migrants slain by traffickers in Libya on Wednesday had been abducted while crossing the country in search of work and then tortured to extract a ransom, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday, citing a survivor.

Libya’s internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) said on Thursday it had issued arrest warrants for suspects in the killing of 24 Bangladeshi and six African migrants.

Another 11 migrants survived the shooting and are in hospital in Mizda, a desert town 160 km (100 miles) south of Tripoli where the killings took place.

The migrants had been crossing the desert from Benghazi in search of work when they were taken hostage by an armed group near Mizda 15 days ago, the Bangladesh ministry cited the survivor as saying.

“They tortured them inhumanely for a ransom. At some point in their ordeal the captives killed the main kidnapper. In retaliation, the militia fired indiscriminately at them,” it added in a statement.

GNA Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha said authorities were doing all they could to find the perpetrators. A local official in Mizda, speaking anonymously, said security forces there had not detained them because they had lost a family member.

Mizda is under the control of eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army (LNA) but not far from areas held by the GNA.

The International Organization for Migration, a United Nations agency, said the incident took place in a smuggling warehouse where a group of migrants was being held.

“These criminal groups are taking advantage of the instability and security situation to prey on desperate people,” said IOM Libya chief Federico Soda.

Libya is home to a large number of migrants, including some who came to work in the major oil exporting nation before its descent into civil war, and others hoping to use it as a way station on the journey to Europe.

Libya's Tripoli government says 30 migrants killed in revenge attack
The family of a Libyan people trafficker killed 30 migrants in revenge for his death, Libya’s internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) said on Thursday.

The GNA interior ministry said in a statement that 26 Bangladeshi and four African migrants had been killed in the town of Mizda and that 11 injured survivors were taken to a hospital in Zintan.

Turkey says may begin oil exploration under Libya deal in three-four months
May 29, 2020 - Turkey may begin oil exploration in the eastern Mediterranean within three or four months under a deal it signed with Libya that was condemned by others in the region including Greece, Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said on Friday.

Libya’s internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) signed the maritime delimitation deal last year. Turkey says it creates an exclusive economic zone from its southern coast to Libya’s northeast coast, and protects rights to resources.

Greece, Cyprus and others oppose the accord and call it illegal, an accusation Ankara has rejected. The European Union also opposes the maritime deal that was signed alongside an agreement for Turkey to provide military support to the GNA, which has battled forces based in eastern Libya for more than a year.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the launch of Turkey’s Fatih oil-and-gas drilling ship to the Black Sea, Donmez said Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), which had applied for an exploration permit in the eastern Mediterranean, would begin operations in areas under its license after the process was completed.

The move could further stoke tensions in the region, where Turkey has been at loggerheads for years with Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and Israel over ownership of natural resources. Turkey could also face possible EU sanctions over its operations.

Separately, Donmez said the Fatih drill ship would hold its first operation in the Black Sea on July 15, the anniversary of a 2016 failed coup attempt. Friday also marked the anniversary of Istanbul’s conquest by the Ottoman Empire in 1453.

 

[youlik]

Spoiler: Russian spelling

Переговоры, переговоры! Турция потребовала переговоров по Ливии, после переброски 14 "российских" истребителей и бомбардировщиков
2020-06-03

Negotiations, negotiations! Turkey demanded talks on Libya, after the transfer of 14" Russian " fighters and bombers
2020-06-03
After the transfer of unknown fighters to Libya, Turkey demanded negotiations with Haftar.

Fighters MiG-29, su-35 and su-24 bombers, which Turkey threatened to destroy at the first opportunity, suddenly turned out to be an occasion for ridicule over Ankara, which unexpectedly demanded negotiations on a truce with the army of Khalifa Haftar. The reason for this was numerous statements by the LNA about its readiness to launch an incredibly powerful attack on the position of the forces of the Government of national unity and the Turkish military and militants, including with the use of combat aircraft, which is obvious .and it scared Turkey.

The forces of the Libyan national army have not yet responded to the demands for negotiations and the beginning of a peace settlement, however, experts believe that now that the Libyan national army has relocated its forces, there is no interest in negotiations with Turkey and the PNE forces.

"Haftar has air defense and combat aircraft, and the talks are of particular interest only for Turkey and the PNE forces to try to concentrate their forces on the defense of key regions. It is obvious that Ankara understands that in the event of a large-scale defeat, Egypt will actively join the action, " the analyst notes.

It should be clarified that at the moment there is no data on the exact number of combat aircraft that appeared at the LNA air bases – according to Haftar's army, we are talking about four MiG-29 fighters, however, taking into account satellite images, the number of such aircraft is at least twice as large.
Переговоры, переговоры! Турция потребовала переговоров по Ливии, после переброски 14 "российских" истребителей и бомбардировщиков

 

[youlik]

Spoiler: Russian spelling

Сейчас начнётся... Египет перебросил десятки танков в Ливию, на помощь Хафтару
2020-06-08

Now it begins... Egypt moved dozens of tanks to Libya to help Haftar
2020-06-08
Egypt decided to change the balance of power in Libya by sending its heavy tanks there.

The Egyptian authorities, against the background of Turkey's intervention in the war in Libya, decided to support the Libyan national army, sending dozens of heavy tanks to help field Marshal Haftar, who was suffering a series of defeats. With such weapons, the Libyan national army can gain a very significant advantage and in just a few days regain control of previously lost territories, not to mention the chance to storm previously inaccessible areas.

There are no official statements from the Egyptian defense Ministry on this issue, but earlier the authorities of this country warned Turkey about its readiness to intervene. Moreover, Abrams tanks have already been seen moving through the territory of the Libyan Tobruk, which indicates the imminent resumption of heavy fighting in Libya, and, according to some reports, the Egyptian military will manage the heavy equipment.

It should be clarified that two days earlier, the forces of the Government of national unity made an unsuccessful attempt to storm the city of Sirte – a huge military column was destroyed by unknown aircraft – according to preliminary data, we are talking about MiG-29 fighters and su-24 bombers that appeared a little earlier in Libya, but at the moment there are no official comments on this.
Learn more at: Сейчас начнётся... Египет перебросил десятки танков в Ливию, на помощь Хафтару

 

[youlik]

Spoiler: Russian spelling

Истребитель МиГ-29 уничтожил турецкий беспилотник.
2020-06-09

Боевики попытались сбить бомбардировщик Су-24М. Видео
2020-06-09

A MiG-29 fighter jet destroyed a Turkish UAV.
2020-06-09
A MiG-29 fighter jet shot down a Turkish drone in the sky over Libya.

Pro-Turkish sources report that a few hours ago over the territory of Libya, in an area controlled by the forces of the Libyan national army, a Turkish strike drone Bayraktar TB-2 was destroyed, which, according to some reports, was planning to strike the positions of the LNA forces. It is reported that the UAV was destroyed by one of the MiG-29 fighters that recently appeared on the territory of Libya.

This is not the first time that MiG-29 fighters have been used on the territory of Libya in the past week or over the past day, which indicates that very serious problems have begun in the forces of the Government of national unity and Turkey, which can result in a stunning defeat, since the Turkish air defense systems located in Libya simply cannot resist these combat aircraft due to the fact that the latter actively use electronic warfare to disrupt the radar, and therefore, Turkish SAMS can not even detect the fighters.

At the moment it is unknown which aircraft it is, because in recent weeks the MiG-29 appeared not only in Libya but also in Syria, and in addition, these fighters are in service with Egypt, creating difficulties in their identification.

It should be clarified that earlier MiG-29 fighters bombed a large column of Turkish military, PNE forces and militants, disrupting the offensive on the city of Sirte.
Истребитель МиГ-29 уничтожил турецкий беспилотник. Видео

The militants tried to shoot down a su-24M bomber. Video
2020-06-09
The terrorists attacked MiG-21, MiG-29 and su-24 fighters over Libya.

Due to the introduction of two new types of aircraft – MiG-29 fighters and su-24 bombers-into service with the Libyan national army, the latter have become one of the main targets for Turkish militants and the forces of the national unity Government. Due to the powerful radio-electronic suppression of the Turkish radars and air defense, the enemy has switched to the use of anti-aircraft and gun trucks-vehicles, in this case, one of the militant attacks almost became fatal for three aircraft – the MiG-21, MiG-29 and su-24 bomber, which struck the PNE and the Turkish militants.

On the presented video you can see that one of the terrorists is trying to shoot down the LNA planes with precise shots, but to no avail, since the latter are at a significant height, although the attempt itself clearly indicates the fact that the Libyan authorities have a firm intention to attack the enemy even in conditions of clearly insufficient funds for this.

"Look at this jihadist PNE, hopelessly trying to shoot down the fighters of the air force of the Libyan national army that flew over Sirte a few minutes ago! They are trying to shoot down the MiG-21MF, MiG-29 and su-24M from this ridiculous anti-aircraft gun ZU-23!", - said Maltese expert Babak Tagway.

It should be noted that the LNA has recently begun to actively use MiG-29 fighters and bombers to strike the enemy, which greatly weakens the position of the PNE.
Боевики попытались сбить бомбардировщик Су-24М. Видео