Western war on Libya

[angelburst29]

Re: Libya

Libya’s Government of National Accord summoned French Ambassador Antoine Sivan to protest France's military deployment to the East of the North-African country.

Libya Unity Gov’t Summons French Ambassador over Military Intervention
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950506000324

The UN-backed government said in a statement the presence of French special forces was "in excess of international norms and a totally unacceptable interference with a sovereign state”, Ria Novosti reported.

GNA chairman Fayez Seraj called for mutual respect and non-interference in Libya’s internal affairs and Libya had "demanded a formal explanation from the French government on what really happened."

Paris confirmed last week that three of its special operations personnel died while on a mission last week after their helicopter was downed in Eastern Libya.

The Saudi-led forces torched the houses of Yemeni civilians in al-Sarari village after looting their properties, killing 20 of them and abducting 40 others

Pro-Saudi Forces Burn 50 Houses, Kill 20 Civilians in Ta'iz Province
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950506000916

The Saudi-led forces' atrocities came in Sabr al-Mavadem region of al-Sarari village after they exploded a mosque in al-Sarari village, the Arabic-language al-Ahad news site reported.

The Saudi forces exploded Jamal al-Din mosque in al-Sarari village, and held 40 residents of the village captive after killing 40 others.

The Saudi-led forces cut into pieces the bodies of the residents of al-Sarari village after executing them.

The killing of the Yemeni civilians came as the Yemeni army and Ansarullah fighters have pushed the Saudi-led forces back into Saudi Arabia, and managed to seize back several strategic military positions in the kingdom near the border with Yemen.

The Yemeni forces took control of three Saudi military bases in al-Tal'a, Boqta and Najran as well as a region in al-Boq'a near the Saudi-Yemeni border crossing in heavy clashes with the Saudi troops.

The Yemeni army targeted the Saudi-led forces' convoy with a ballistic missile near the strategic Farza 9 military base in Ma'rib province on Wednesday.

Saudi Convoy Comes Under Missile Attack in Ma'rib Province
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950506001065

"Yemen's Zalzal 3 ballistic missile precisely hit the Saudi convoy after closely monitoring the movements of the Saudi-led forces there," the Arabic-language media quoted an unnamed battlefield source as saying on Wednesday.

The Saudi-led forces sustained heavy casualties as the Yemeni missile precisely struck their military convoy.

There is no immediate report on the exact number of casualties, but eyewitnesses confirmed that the missile landed precisely on the convoy.

The Yemeni missile attack came in retaliation for the Saudi airstrikes on Yemen's civilians.

In a relevant development on Tuesday, the Yemeni forces' ballistic missile attack killed and wounded tens of Saudi forces in Najran province in the Southern parts of the kingdom.

"At least 200 Saudi troops have been killed or wounded after Yemen's Zalzal 3 ballistic missile hit their military positions in Najran province," Senior Ansarullah Commander Abdollah al-Zeidi told FNA.

 

[Voyageur]

Re: Libya

...

The Saudi-led forces torched the houses of Yemeni civilians in al-Sarari village after looting their properties, killing 20 of them and abducting 40 others

Pro-Saudi Forces Burn 50 Houses, Kill 20 Civilians in Ta'iz Province
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950506000916

The Saudi-led forces' atrocities came in Sabr al-Mavadem region of al-Sarari village after they exploded a mosque in al-Sarari village, the Arabic-language al-Ahad news site reported.

The Saudi forces exploded Jamal al-Din mosque in al-Sarari village, and held 40 residents of the village captive after killing 40 others.

The Saudi-led forces cut into pieces the bodies of the residents of al-Sarari village after executing them.

The killing of the Yemeni civilians came as the Yemeni army and Ansarullah fighters have pushed the Saudi-led forces back into Saudi Arabia, and managed to seize back several strategic military positions in the kingdom near the border with Yemen.

The Yemeni forces took control of three Saudi military bases in al-Tal'a, Boqta and Najran as well as a region in al-Boq'a near the Saudi-Yemeni border crossing in heavy clashes with the Saudi troops.

The Yemeni army targeted the Saudi-led forces' convoy with a ballistic missile near the strategic Farza 9 military base in Ma'rib province on Wednesday.

Saudi Convoy Comes Under Missile Attack in Ma'rib Province
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950506001065

"Yemen's Zalzal 3 ballistic missile precisely hit the Saudi convoy after closely monitoring the movements of the Saudi-led forces there," the Arabic-language media quoted an unnamed battlefield source as saying on Wednesday.

The Saudi-led forces sustained heavy casualties as the Yemeni missile precisely struck their military convoy.

There is no immediate report on the exact number of casualties, but eyewitnesses confirmed that the missile landed precisely on the convoy.

The Yemeni missile attack came in retaliation for the Saudi airstrikes on Yemen's civilians.

In a relevant development on Tuesday, the Yemeni forces' ballistic missile attack killed and wounded tens of Saudi forces in Najran province in the Southern parts of the kingdom.

"At least 200 Saudi troops have been killed or wounded after Yemen's Zalzal 3 ballistic missile hit their military positions in Najran province," Senior Ansarullah Commander Abdollah al-Zeidi told FNA.

Having read about Yemen recently in the T. J. Coles book 'Britain's Secret Wars'; the training of forces, leaders and internal forces (the Saudis too), the arms deals, supply networks and the overall meddling by Britain in Yemen, well it is just horrendous what they have done since long ago unto this day. And as Coles discusses, hardly a words is ever mentioned of these British deeds. And that's just Britain.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: Libya

The US military conducted airstrikes in Libya on Monday to target the Daesh stronghold of Sirte, marking the first time the US has carried out such operations in the country.

US military begins airstrikes against Daesh-stronghold Sirte
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/08/01/477986/US-launches-strikes-on-Daesh-in-Libya

Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of Libya's unity government, announced the strikes in a televised speech.

The Pentagon press secretary, Peter Cook, also said in a statement, "At the request of the Libyan Government of National Accord, the United States military conducted precision airstrikes against ISIL targets in Sirte, Libya, to support GNA-affiliated forces seeking to defeat ISIL in its primary stronghold in Libya.”

Cook added that the US strikes in Sirte "will continue," without elaborating.

Foreign forces, including from France, the US and Britain, are in Libya in a purported fight against the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group. In May, the US and the UK had both confirmed the presence of their troops in Libya.

However, Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) has denounced the presence of foreign troops as a “violation” of the country’s sovereignty.

Sirte, the major stronghold of Daesh outside Iraq and Syria, fell to the Takfiri terrorists in February 2015. The full recapture of the city would be a major boost to the unity government, which has come to office through support from the United Nations.

Daesh has been taking advantage of the chaos embroiling Libya since the NATO-backed overthrow and death of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

The oil-rich North African country has had two rival governments since 2014, when politician Khalifa Ghweil and his self-proclaimed government seized control of the capital, Tripoli, with the support of militia groups, forcing the internationally-recognized government to move to the remote eastern city of Tobruk.

The two governments reached a consensus on forming the GNA last December after months of UN-brokered talks in Tunisia and Morocco to restore order to the country.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: Libya

The United States is citing the 2001 congressional authorization to use military force (AUMF) as the legal basis to carry out the recent airstrikes against Daesh in Libya, US Department of Defense spokesperson Peter Cook said in a briefing on Monday.

Pentagon Cites 15-Year-Old Military Authorization for Libyan Anti-Daesh Strikes
http://sputniknews.com/africa/20160801/1043843437/daesh-airstrikes-libya.html

On Monday, the Pentagon announced it carried out its third round of anti-Daesh airstrikes in Libya since November. The airstrikes were requested by the internationally recognized Libyan Government of National Accord.

"The 2001 authorization for the use of military force, similar to our previous airstrikes in Libya," Cook told reporters when asked the legal basis for the latest US airstrikes.

The 2001 AUMF was passed in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and provided the authority to target any person, nation, or organization that planned or aided the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Since military action against Daesh began in August 2014, President Barack Obama has not been able to get a new AUMF passed by Congress. The Obama administration has defended the legality of using the 2001 AUMF to engage in anti-Daesh operations.

The United States has carried out airstrikes against Daesh terrorists in Libya at the request of the local government of national accord, the Pentagon said.

US Launches Airstrikes Against Daesh in Libya at Government's Request
http://sputniknews.com/africa/20160801/1043837642/us-airstrikes-daesh-libya.html

The US military has conducted airstrikes against Daesh in Libya at the invitation of the Libyan Government of National Accord, Pentagon spokesperson Michelle Baldanza said in a statement on Monday.

"Today, at the request of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), the United States military conducted precision air strikes against ISIL [Daesh] targets in Sirte, Libya, to support GNA-affiliated forces seeking to defeat ISIL [Daesh] in its primary stronghold in Libya," Baldanza said.

US President Barack Obama authorized US military airstrikes against Daesh positions near Libya’s Sirte, US Department of Defense spokesperson Peter Cook said in a statement on Monday.

US President Barack Obama authorized US military airstrikes against Daesh positions near Libya’s Sirte, US Department of Defense spokesperson Peter Cook said in a statement on Monday.

Earlier on Monday, Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj announced that the US military conducted strikes against Daesh targets near the Mediterranean city of Sirte at the request of the Libyan Government of National Accord.

"These strikes were authorized by the president [Obama] following a recommendation from [Defense] Secretary [Ashton] Carter and [Joint Chiefs of Staff] Chairman [Joseph] Dunford," Cook stated.

The Pentagon said there were no US troops on the ground in Libya following Washington's airstrikes on Daesh in the country.

Pentagon: No US Boots on the Ground in Libya Amid Anti-Daesh Airstrikes
http://sputniknews.com/africa/20160801/1043841664/us-libya-daesh-boots.html

There are no US troops on the ground in Libya amid US military airstrikes against Daesh near the city of Sirte, US Department of Defense press secretary Peter Cook said during a briefing on Monday.

Precison airstrikes by US forces in Libya are focused on destroying armored vehicles such as tanks, Cook said on Monday.

Cook added that besides the tank, the US airstrikes also hit two armored vehicles.

President Barack Obama approved the airstrikes in Libya.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: Libya

The Pentagon has announced today that the US has begun conducting military airstrikes against Libya with the stated intent of defeating ISIS in that country. According to the Pentagon spokesman, the Libyan “Government of National Accord” requested that the US begin airstrikes against what they claim is an ISIS stronghold in the Libyan town of Sirte, the birthplace of murdered Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

US Airstrikes Hit Libya To Bolster UN-Created Government
http://original.antiwar.com/daniel-mcadams/2016/08/01/us-airstrikes-hit-libya-bolster-un-created-government/

Pentagon Spokesman Peter Cook has indicated that this is the beginning of a more sustained US air campaign against Libya and that each US airstrike is approved by the US Africa Command (AFRICOM).

Some observations:

1) No ISIS Before 2011 US “Liberation” It goes without saying that before the US “liberation” of Libya in 2011, there were no ISIS forces in Sirte, or anywhere else in Libya. ISIS in Libya is a problem created by the US intervention in Libya in 2011.

2) Libyan Government Created by UN The Pentagon cites the “Government of National Accord” as the legitimate Libyan government and its willingness to carry out airstrikes in favor of that government signifies US policy favors consolidation of power in the hands of this one of several factions competing for power in Libya. It should be noted that the “Government of National Accord” is a governing body that was not selected by the Libyan people, but rather created by the United Nations and sent into Libya on a ship from Tunisia.

At the time this government was imposed on the Libyan people by the UN, that body’s envoy for Libya, Martin Kobler told the Libyan people they should accept this new governing body even though they had not elected it He said:

I call on the Libyan people to extend to the Presidency Council and the Government of National Accord their full support and cooperation. The international community stands firmly behind them and is ready to provide the required support and assistance.

The US-led attack on Libya was supposed to give the Libyan people back their sovereign vote by deposing a leader not sufficiently democratic by US standards.

The US is bombing Libya to consolidate the power of a non-elected government that the US installed because the previous government was not elected.

3) US Claims 2001 Force Authorization as Authority At the 28:04 minute mark of today’s briefing on the airstrikes, one journalist finally asked the Pentagon spokesman under what legal authority these strikes were being conducted. The Pentagon spokesman replied that they were authorized by the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force.

This Administration claim is an incredible stretch – beyond the breaking point. Libya was not involved in any way with the 9/11 attacks on the US and ISIS did not even exist at the time of the 9/11 attacks.

None of the journalists followed up on the Administration’s claim of authority to attack Libya based on legislation targeting those who attacked the US on 9/11.

4) Millions Spent on Strikes to Hit a Tank According to Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook, this US airstrike resulted in the bombing of a tank and a few trucks. The cost of a round of airstrikes on Iraq or Syria is approximately $8.5 million.

5) No Media Interest in ISIS Appearance in Libya Through the entire 37 minute Pentagon briefing, no one in the press corps asked why ISIS is in Libya where it had not been before the 2011 US attack. No one challenged the Administration narrative.

A suicide bomber attacked a group of Libyan servicemen in the country's second largest city of Benghazi, killing eight people and injuring 16, local media reported Tuesday.

Suicide Bombing in Libya's Benghazi Kills 8, Injures 16
http://sputniknews.com/africa/20160802/1043876575/bombing-libya-victims.html

According to Al Arabiya broadcaster, no group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. No details were immediately available.

Libya has been in a state of turmoil since 2011, when a civil war broke out in the country and long-standing leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed. The country has been contested by two rival governments — the internationally-recognized Council of Deputies based in Tobruk and the Tripoli-based General National Congress. The Government of National Accord has failed so far to unite the country.

In July, Libyan forces led by Gen. Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the armed forces loyal to the Tobruk-based government, managed to retake control of a Benghazi neighborhood from extremists. The advance came as part of the forces' operation in Benghazi to counter Daesh, which is outlawed in Russia and many other countries, and other extremist groups.

US ground troops have not been involved in the fighting against Daesh militants in the Libyan city of Sirte, a spokesman for the Libyan armed forces told Sputnik.

Libyan Military Denies US Ground Troops’ Involvement in Fighting Daesh in Sirte
http://sputniknews.com/africa/20160802/1043873821/troops-us-libya-daesh.html

On Monday, the Pentagon announced it had conducted airstrikes against two Daesh targets in Libya, in coordination with the internationally recognized Libyan Government of National Accord.

"US airstrikes have hit IS [Daesh] positions in Sirte. There is no US military presence on the ground there," Mohammed Ghasri said.

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Tuesday did not rule out the possibility of providing access to the country’s military bases to Washington to support the recently launched US campaign against the Daesh terrorist group in Libya.

US May Be Allowed to Use Italy's Military Bases for Anti-Daesh Campaign in Libya
http://sputniknews.com/military/20160802/1043855781/us-italy-military-bases-anti-daesh-campaign.html

– In particular, Italy is considering Naval Air Station Sigonella as a possible host to US troops.

"If there are such requests, we will consider them and, of course, in case we take a decision, we will inform the parliament," Gentiloni said in an interview with the local Uno Mattina radio station.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: Libya

The United States declines to reveal details on military bases used to conduct US airstrikes against Daesh in Libya due to the operational security, Pentagon spokesperson Michelle Baldanza told Sputnik on Tuesday when asked about the possibility of using military bases in Italy for the recently launched campaign.

US Gives No Details on Bases Used for Libya Strikes Due to Operational Security
http://sputniknews.com/military/20160802/1043874012/us-libya-airstrikes-bases.html

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Tuesday did not rule out the possibility of providing access to the country’s military bases, in particular Naval Air Station Sigonella, to Washington to support the US campaign in Libya.

“We have a range of capabilities at various locations in the region that will allow us to carry out these airstrikes,” Balzanza said. “Operational security precludes me from providing further details, but I can tell you that the operations were conducted with proper notification and coordination of our partner nations.”

On Monday, the Department of Defense announced that the US military had conducted airstrikes against Daesh jihadists in Libya at the invitation of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA).

US airstrikes against the Daesh group in Libya will likely last for weeks and not turn into a months-long campaign, US Department of Defense spokesperson Jeff Davis said on Tuesday.

US Airstrikes Against Daesh in Libya to Last ‘Weeks, Not Months’ - Pentagon
http://sputniknews.com/military/20160803/1043882555/daesh-libya-airstrikes.html

On Monday, the Pentagon said Libya’s internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) requested "precision airstrikes" to aid Libyan operations against the Daesh near the Mediterranean city of Sirte.

Davis explained that the airstrikes will allow the GNA to make a strategic advance against the terror group’s positions in Sirte.

"The duration of this operation will be measured based upon the length of time it takes for them [the GNA] to do that objective," Davis said.

US and Libyan officials have denied that there is any US troop presence near Sirte. The airstrikes are the third round carried out against the Daesh in Libya since November.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: Libya

An Emirate passenger plane crash-landed at Dubai Airport and caught fire. All passengers were evacuated safely, and no injuries have been reported so far, according to authorities.

Emirates Plane Crash-Lands at Dubai Airport (Videos)
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160803/1043891013/emirates-ek521-dubai.html

A passenger jet of the Emirates airline crash-landed at Dubai Airport in the UAE on Wednesday, the government and airline said.

​The fire on board an Emirates airline passenger jet has been fully extinguished, the Dubai Media Office said Wednesday, adding that all operations have been suspended until further notice.

Flight EK521 with 275 passengers and crew members on board was flying from south India’s Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai, according to the UAE government. It was due to land at 12.50 p.m. local time (8:50GMT).

​The UAE government’s feed on the Dubai Media Office’s account confirmed that the plane crash-landed.
"All passengers were evacuated safely and no injuries have been reported so far," it said.

Flightradar24, which monitors flights, said on Twitter that the Emirates' Boeing 777-300, flying from Thiruvananthapuram in India, had caught fire on landing. All inbound and outgoing flights at the airport have been suspended or diverted, it said.

Dubai International Airport remains closed in the aftermath of the accident, according to the website. All inbound and outgoing flights were previously suspended or diverted.

The Emirates EK521 caught fire after crash-landing in Dubai, and not before it, the airline's CEO said.

Emirates Plane Catches Fire at Dubai Airport After Making Hard Landing
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160803/1043909392/emirates-ek521-fire-dubai.html

The Emirates airline passenger jet caught fire on hard landing at the Dubai International Airport, the head of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and CEO of The Emirates Group, Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, said Wednesday.

“The fire broke out on board the Emirates airline after its destruction, and not before it,” Al Maktoum told reporters, saying there are no problems with the aircraft’s technical condition.

He ruled out security breach as a possible cause of the plane's crash-landing, adding that the airline does not want to jump to conclusions as an investigation into the incident is underway.

Al Maktoum confirmed earlier reports that 10 people have been hospitalized with light injuries. The Gulf News outlet said the people have been treated for smoke inhalation and minor injuries.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) launched an investigation into flight EK521's crash-landing at the Dubai airport five minutes before the aircraft's scheduled landing. The plane was carrying 282 passengers and 18 crew members from south India's Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai.

A firefighter lost his life extinguishing the blaze of an Emirates plane which crash-landed in Dubai on Wednesday.

Firefighter Dies Extinguishing Flames of Emirates Plane at Dubai Airport
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160803/1043906941/firefighter-dubai-emirates-ek521.html

A firefighter died while extinguishing the flames of an Emirates airline passenger jet that crash-landed at Dubai International Airport, the Dubai Media Office said Wednesday, citing civil aviation authorities.

The GCAA launched an investigation into the crash-landing five minutes before the aircraft’s scheduled landing. Flight EK521 with 282 passengers and 18 crew members on board was flying from south India’s Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai.

Up to 10 passengers have reportedly been treated for smoke inhalation and minor injuries.

Official documents on Britain’s relationship with Israel, including papers on “military and nuclear collaboration” in the 1970s, disappeared from the National Archives in the last four years.

Files Linking Britain to Israel’s Nuclear Weapons Go Missing
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950513001298

More than 400 records have gone missing from the repository in Kew, southwest London, including a 1947 letter from Winston Churchill and a Home Office document on the 1910 Suffragettes “disturbances”, RT reported.

More than 400 records have gone missing from the repository in Kew, southwest London, including a 1947 letter from Winston Churchill and a Home Office document on the 1910 Suffragettes “disturbances”, RT reported.

The Archives reassured the public it is following a “robust” plan to find the lost files.

The loss of the documents was uncovered following a BBC freedom of information (FoI) request, which found the last recorded knowledge of the 402 historical dossiers was January 2012.

Among them is a Foreign Office file titled ‘Military and nuclear collaboration with Israel: Israeli nuclear armament,’ in which the British government notes Israel’s intention to purchase nuclear weapons.

The document is thought to be linked to a United Nations resolution from 1978 listing the “increasing evidence” of the Middle Eastern country’s attempts at acquiring weapons of mass destruction.

This is not the only National Archives paper to report on Anglo-Israeli nuclear agreements. A 1958 document, made public by the BBC a decade ago, showed how Britain sold 20 tons of heavy water, one of the ingredients needed to generate plutonium, to Israel to be used in the country’s top secret Dimona nuclear reactor.

The lost file is believed to have been part of a portfolio of official 1970s documents on arms control and nuclear disarmament.

Israel neither admits nor denies its possession of nuclear weapons and has never publicly tested one. It is universally believed to have them, however, but its official secrecy means it is unclear exactly how many.

It is thought that the files may have simply been misplaced and will soon be found. National Archives officials highlighted that less than 0.01 percent of the library’s 11 million public records disappear, accounting for around 100 files each year.

Around 1,600 documents were reported missing between 2005 and 2011.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: Libya

THE VICIOUS CYCLE BEGINS AS THE OBAMA REGIME ONCE AGAIN OFFICIALLY NOW IS BOMBING LIBYA !
http://novorossia.today/134055-2/

Just five years after bombing Libya to dispose of Muammar Gaddafi, the US is now officially bombing the country again, this time against alleged Isis terrorist strongholds that cropped up in the power vacuum created by the last bombing. It’s yet another episode of the War on Terror Circle of Life, where the US bombs a country and then funnels weapons into the region, which leads to chaos and the opportunity for terrorist organizations, which then leads more US bombing.

Like usual in the Obama administration’s wars, there was no congressional vote on the latest airstrikes in Libya and no declaration of war, as required by the constitution. The administration is pinning the legal authority for this military incursion on the 2001 Authorization for Military Force that was meant for Afghanistan and the perpetrators of 9/11, al-Qaida. Isis, of course, didn’t exist until years later, and the two groups are now enemies, but those technicalities don’t seem to bother the Obama administration, which is continuing to expand US military presence abroad with little to no public input.

The pattern of bombing-chaos-bombing in Libya follows the same pattern as Iraq, which was largely free of al-Qaida members before the US invasion in 2003, only to see it become a terrorist hotbed for the group once the US military arrived, eventually leading to the formation of Isis. Iraq War III has been quietly but steadily increasing for months now – the US has well over 5,000 troops back in the country after leaving at the end of 2011. The US troop presence went up again recently, recently reaching battalion-level numbers.

With even less fanfare, the same cycle has been playing out in Yemen, which the US has been backing in its appalling and indiscriminate Saudi Arabian bombing campaign that has killed thousands of civilians and led to many calls of war crimes. The war there continues to receives scant coverage in the media and is completely ignored by both presidential campaigns despite the fact that it has also created space for al-Qaida of the Arabian Peninsula (Aqap) to completely rejuvenate itself. As a Reuters investigation in April put it, Aqap has “become stronger than at any time since it first emerged almost 20 years ago”.

The US quietly announced in May that it now has troops inside Yemen, fighting the same al-Qaida that it helped strengthen by supporting the Saudi war.

And where will we be in Syria in six months? Well, if Hillary Clinton wins the 2016 presidential election, her campaign is already promising a “reset” on US–Syria policy, where the military has already been dropping bombs for more than a year. Her “reset” policy, described by an adviser in the media last week, sounds an awful lot like she will be starting a war against the Assad regime, in addition to a wider bombing campaign against Isis she has already promised should she get into office.

It’s worth noting that the US has been accused of killing dozens of civilians in Syria with its airstrikes on at least two different occasions in the last few weeks. How they plan on avoiding even more destruction – and backlash – when the conflict increases is anyone’s guess.

As foreign policy expert Micah Zenko pointed out, when so-called Iraq War III first started almost two years ago now, officials claimed it “will be of a limited duration”. In Yemen two months ago, they absurdly said that “we view this as short-term”, despite the crisis-level situation they helped create inside the country.

With Libya this time around, I guess we can be relieved that at least the US government isn’t outwardly lying about any time limits on this military incursion. As the Guardian’s Spencer Ackerman reported: “The US officials say [this] will be a sustained offensive against the militant group,” and a Pentagon spokesman admitted: “We don’t have an end point at this particular point of time.”

Whoever is in office after Obama leaves in January will have many decisions to make about wars across the Middle East. But one thing seems clear: the government’s established pattern of needing to address the problems its own past actions helped create will continue.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: Libya

Italy may very well be joining the US anti-Daesh operation in Libya, having offered Washington the use of Sigonella air base in Sicily for USAF raids into the North African country. Sputnik spoke to Italian military journalist Mirko Molteni about why Italy has once again allowed itself to become involved in a NATO air war over Libya.

'We Have No Voice': Military Expert Irate Over Italy's Entry Into Libya Campaign
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160807/1044025107/us-daesh-bombing-italian-base-commentary.html

Last week, Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti confirmed that Rome was prepared to allow the US to use Italian military facilities to support US airstrikes against Daesh in Libya. "The government is ready to positively evaluate the issue of the use of Italian bases and airspace," Pinotti said, speaking before the country's lower house of parliament on Wednesday.

Asked to comment on Rome's decision, Mirko Molteni, a respected military journalist and contributor to Analisi Difesa magazine and the Milan-based daily newspaper Libero, told Sputnik Italia that it would undoubtedly increase the danger of terrorist attacks against Italy.

Effectively, the analyst warned that "all this may permanently destroy the illusion that Italy is safe from the terrorists."

At the same time, Molteni noted that unfortunately, the Italian government really does not have much of a say in the US-led initiative, "its tendency to tag along with the great powers becoming a typical trend in recent decades. Even in 2011, the Berlusconi government failed to oppose the airstrikes against the Gaddafi government initiated by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Italy was made to tag along with Paris and Washington in this historical mistake which created the current instability in Libya."

As to the current thirty-day air campaign, the analyst said that he believes it to carry "more political than military" significance. In his view, the Tripoli-based government of Fayez al-Sarraj is looking to establish itself as the only legitimate representative of the Libyan state, "even though there is also General Khalifa Haftar's government in Tobruk, which is also actively fighting Daesh in the Benghazi area."

Unfortunately, the expert noted, Italy's political and military servility toward the United States is rooted in nearly 70 years of history, which followed Italy's entry into the NATO alliance.

"After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, there was no longer any danger from the east; in fact, today's Russia is our ally against terrorism. But the political class in Italy has retained its habit of delegating the defense of Italy's national interests to the United States, and it will be many years before they learn to take care of our national interests themselves," the commentator said.

On the plus side, Molteni said that he believes that as far as Moscow is concerned, Rome's participation in these airstrikes is unlikely to threaten Russian-Italian relations. "This decision will not directly affect Italian-Russian relations, because Moscow understands that Italy is in some sense obliged" to follow US orders. "However, these bombings will lead to resurgence in the rivalry between the two governments in Libya."

Ultimately, the analyst emphasized that if the United States and Russia really wanted to cooperate against Daesh, they might consider coordinated strikes on the terrorist group's stronghold in Sirte. However, these strikes would require more effective coordination than in Syria, where US aviation factually only serves to create additional problems for the Russian mission there.

US forces carried out nine airstrikes against Daesh fighters near the Libyan city of Sirte on Saturday and Sunday as part of an air campaign requested by Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA), the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a press release on Monday.

US Forces Conduct 9 Airstrikes in Libya in Support of Anti-Daesh Operation
http://sputniknews.com/africa/20160808/1044060624/us-libya-daesh-airstrikes.html

The press release listed Saturday’s targets as four "enemy fighting positions" and one "heavy machine gun."

On August 1, the United States began a new airstrike campaign at the request of, and in coordination with, the GNA aimed at fighting Daesh militants.

The campaign, called Operation Odyssey Lightning, will allow the GNA to make a strategic advance against the terror group’s positions in Sirte, according to the US Defense Department.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: Libya

The United States and Europe do not have any plans to rebuild Libya’s cities or critical infrastructure destroyed by military intervention and have no intentions of supporting a government whose survival remains in doubt, analysts told Sputnik on Tuesday.

US Destroying Libya's Cities Without Plans to Rebuild, Support Government
http://sputniknews.com/analysis/20160809/1044103514/us-destroying-libya.html

On Monday, US forces carried out nine airstrikes against Daesh fighters in the Libyan city of Sirte as part of a new aerial campaign launched on August 1.

"There is no discussion at all concerning rebuilding infrastructure [and] nobody is about to get involved in establishing a united government — not the United States, and especially not Europe," South Front military analyst Daniel Deiss said.

Sirte is in ruins, Deiss noted, with apartment buildings and critical infrastructure like roads and sewage systems destroyed.

Political-military leaders in the United States and Europe, however, have failed to offer any detailed plans for how Libya’s infrastructure will be rebuilt, much less paid for, Deiss claimed.

Libya scholar Ronald Bruce St John told Sputnik that compounding matters is the dismal outlook for the survival of the GNA as it is the creature of a complex political process that focused on reconstituting national political parties at the expense of grass roots political organizations and leaders, and much of the Libyan populace.

"The most relevant political actors, including mayors, tribal leaders, and civil society were not involved in the United Nations’ process,” St John said. “Consequently, the eventual success of the Presidency Council and GNA remain in doubt.”

The presence of Daesh in Libya and the need to halt illegal migration from Africa south of the Sahara through Libya and across the Mediterranean is what is driving the current military campaign in Libya, St John stated.

As a result, St John concluded, the top concern right now is "combating migrants.”

US Africa Command (AFRICOM) is leading the most recent US and European Allies' air assault on Daesh and has targeted armored vehicles and buildings that house terrorist fighters. The US government claims it is supporting the armed forces of the UN-brokered Presidency Council and the GNA, at their request.

 

[Ca.]

Re: Libya

An Emirate passenger plane crash-landed at Dubai Airport and caught fire. All passengers were evacuated safely, and no injuries have been reported so far, according to authorities.
Emirates Plane Crash-Lands at Dubai Airport (Videos)
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160803/1043891013/emirates-ek521-dubai.html

Emirates 777 Crash-Lands in Dubai
http://www.askthepilot.com/emirates-crash-landing/
UPDATE: August 9, 2016

LAST WEDNESDAY an Emirates Boeing 777-300 crash-landed and burst into flames at the Dubai airport. All 300 passengers and crew managed to escape before fire consumed most of the plane’s upper fuselage. A firefighter was killed battling the blaze.

Flight EK521 was arriving from Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), India, carrying 282 passengers and 18 crew members. Information from Dubai has been spotty and incomplete, so it’s difficult to construct a probable scenario. Here it is several days later, and we’re are still hearing conflicting accounts of even basic information. According to various accounts and air traffic control recordings, the aircraft apparently was attempting a go-around maneuver (aborted landing), when, seconds later, it struck the ground hard and skidded to a stop on its belly. There are conflicting reports as to whether the plane’s landing gear had been retracted prior to the impact, or if it collapsed upon landing. Normal go-around procedures call for the pilots to retract the gear once the plane starts to climb.

Weather at the time was gusty and unstable, with blowing dust and low-level windshear. Windshear is a rapid change in the direction or velocity of the wind, which in severe cases can lead to a dangerous loss of flying speed. Garden-variety shears are common and almost never dangerous, but it’s possible the crew encountered an unusually powerful shear while transitioning from the landing to the go-around, causing the jet to descend and strike the ground. Modern aircraft have sophisticated windshear warning systems, and pilots are well trained in how to deal with this phenomenon, but in rare cases shears can exceed the capabilities of the airplane and crew.

We should mention, too, that the temperature in Dubai was approaching 50 degrees Celsius. Airplanes do not perform as robustly in hot weather. A go-around maneuver, by itself, and even in 50-degree conditions, should have been routine and straightforward, but a combination emerges: unstable weather and windshear, a go-around, and scorching hot temperatures. Could these factors have come together in exactly the wrong way at exactly the wrong time?

Did crew error play a role as well? Or was it something totally unrelated?

Little is known for certain at this point. Media access is tightly controlled in the United Arab Emirates, and authorities there are unlikely to be forthcoming. So far we’ve been told very little.

(Oddly, too, the story has been strangely buried in most media outlets. I can’t help comparing to the 2013 Asiana 777 crash-landing and fire in San Francisco, which was a circus of coverage for the better part of two days.)

Regardless of the cause, one of the more disturbing aspects of the accident was the behavior of many passengers. All 280 customers made it out alive — somewhat in spite of themselves. Looking at the photos and video footage, dozens of people can be seen leaving the burning aircraft with their carry-on bags. This has become distressingly normal in runway evacuation incidents, and I cannot overemphasize how dangerous it is. In a situation where seconds can mean the difference between life and death, luggage slows people down and clogs the aisles and exit points. Also, those escape slides are very high and very steep, turning your laptop or roll-aboard into a deadly, high-speed projectile. To see so many passengers fleeing with heavy carry-ons is especially jarring in this case, because obviously this was no precautionary thing. The plane was on fire!

Airlines need to better emphasize this in their safety briefings, and the briefings themselves need to be much, much shorter, focusing on a few critical items, including this one. People have proposed different ideas, from restricting the number of carry-ons to locking the overhead bins during arrival and departure. Ultimately, though, it comes down to passenger awareness. Hopefully, that awareness will not come as the result of hand luggage contributing to a tragedy.

Passenger recklessness aside, this was the latest of a number of takeoff and landing incidents that, while serious, have been fatality-free or otherwise mostly survivable. If this is a new normal, it’s mostly a good thing. In decades past, large-scale catastrophes with hundreds dead were the norm, sometimes occurring a dozen times or more times in a given year. What happened in Dubai was terrible, but in a way it’s a testament to how safe flying has become. We don’t see nearly as many of those truly disastrous crashes as we used to.

Emirates is the world’s largest international airline, and largest operator of the 777, with approximately 170 of the jets in service.

More on this story as it develops.

Emirates 777 Crash Aug 3 2016

Asiana Airlines Flight 214 July 6, 2013
_https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiana_Airlines_Flight_214

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Re: Libya

Libyan Forces Recapture Daesh Headquarters in Sirte

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160810/1044140115/libya-daesh-sirte.html

Troops loyal to the UN-backed Libyan government recaptured the Ouagadougou conference center, the Islamist headquarters in the port city of Sirte, the operations center said Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Bunyan Marsous Operations Room announced that Daesh terrorists had been ejected from their hideout after a day’s offensive, the Libya Herald newspaper reported.

The operations center said they had liberated a hospital and a university, killing around 20 jihadists. They confirmed having lost contact with a Libyan Air Force warplane, the second in the past two months. The outlet cited Daesh who claimed they had downed the jet.

Daesh gained a presence in Libya in the turmoil following the 2011 overthrow of the country's long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi. The country has been mired in a civil war since 2014.

Libya's GNA forces retake Sirte University from Daesh

http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/08/10/479424/Libya-Sirte-GNA-Daesh

Forces loyal to Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) have retaken the Sirte University from the Takfiri Daesh terrorists.

"Our forces are making progress in their attack against Daesh, and have recaptured the Sirte University," Rida Issa, a spokesman for the GNA forces, said Wednesday.

At least 20 Daesh terrorists were killed in the fighting for the complex.

Meanwhile, the GNA forces said they lost one of their planes during the operation on Wednesday. The forces did not provide more details. Amaq news agency, which is affiliated to Daesh, said the terrorists have shot down the fighter jet, killing the pilot.

Libyan forces stepped up the battle for Sirte on August 4.

The large-scale military operation to retake Sirte began in May. The Libyan forces entered the city in June.

On August 7, the Libyan forces said the "countdown" had begun for the final attack on Daesh positions in the coastal city.

Libya has been the scene of violence since a NATO military intervention followed the 2011 uprising that led to the toppling and killing of longtime dictator, Muammar Gaddafi.

Daesh has taken advantage of the chaos gripping the country to strengthen its foothold there.

US Forces Conduct Airstrike on Daesh Target in Libya

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160810/1044138656/us-libya-airstrike.html

US forces carried out one airstrike against Daesh positions near the Libyan city of Sirte on Tuesday as part of an air campaign requested by Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA), the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a press release.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The airstrike hit "one pickup truck with mounted recoilless rifle," the press release stated on Wednesday.

On August 1, the United States began the aerial campaign against Daesh at the request of and in coordination with the GNA.

US forces have conducted a total of 29 airstrikes in support of the campaign, called Operation Odyssey Lightning, AFRICOM noted.

The airstrikes will allow the GNA to make a strategic advance against the terror group’s positions in Sirte, according to the US Defense Department.

Daesh gained a presence in Libya in the turmoil following the 2011 overthrow of leader Muammar Gaddafi. Libya has been mired in a civil war since 2014.

ISIS shoots down Libyan aircraft, pilot killed

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-shoots-libyan-aircraft-pilot-killed/

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) shot down a fighter jet owned by Fajr Libya militia in the northern coastal city of Sirte, killing its pilot Gen. Mukhtar Fakrun.

The terror group claimed responsibility for downing the L-39 aircraft via its official social media account Aamaq Agency.

Fajr Libya militia has launched a wide-scale offensive dubbed “Bunyan Marsous” against ISIS positions in Sirte. The military operation is backed by US airstrikes as well.

On Monday, July 8th, US fighter jets conducted 12 airstrikes against the terror group in the coastal city, killing scores of jihadists and destroying several staging points and vehicles.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: Libya

United States forces are fighting on the ground in Libya, providing support for local troops battling Daesh near the city of Sirte, according to an anonymous US official. Why should US troops keep a low profile, and why does the Pentagon continue to deny their presence?

Boots on the Ground? US Forces Active in Libya, Fighting Near Sirte
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160811/1044146789/us-forces-ground-libya.html

The existence of US troops fighting on Libyan ground around Sirte has been denied by the US command. Small US Special Operations groups are operating around the Libyan city of Sirte, providing intelligence information and direct support for local Libyan fighters, and coordinating US airstrikes in the region.

According to sources cited by AntiWar.com, US special ops teams are working out of a joint operations center on the city outskirts. Their role is said to currently be limited to supporting forces loyal to the country's government.

The troops have established outposts, and built ties to various militant groups in attempts to identify potential allies, indicating that US intelligence assets, at a loss for clarity, are seeking additional information through the use of the military.

The US Special Forces are operating in a so-called low-visibility mode, to avoid being targeted as another Western intervention. Military incursions into Libya by foreign actors, notably those of the West, are highly unwelcome, both by people and the fragile government in Libya, as indicated by recent protests against French intervention in July.

Last month, French troops revealed their presence in Libya after several French soldiers were found dead near the city of Benghazi. The Libyan government demanded an official explanation from France following the incident, stating that they "completely reject this violation of Libyan soil."

The "low visibility" mode has apparently failed Western soldiers, as some US and British forces have reportedly been spotted earlier this week in Sirte. Local armed forces officials said they identified Western military personnel carrying radios and wearing black body armor and tan uniforms. The US Department of Defense subsequently denied the involvement of US Special Forces or other military personnel in Libya.

The US Special Operations forces for the first time are carrying out on-the-ground operations against Daesh jihadist group in Libya's Sirte, The Washington Post reported, citing US officials.

US Troops Expand Operations Against Daesh in Libya to Include Ground Support
http://sputniknews.com/africa/20160810/1044123262/daesh-libya-operation-us.html

The US forces' role on the ground is limited to supporting forces loyal to GNA, the newspaper reported, citing the officials wishing to remain anonymous.

According to Robyn Mack, spokeswoman for U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), some US military personnel will continue to operate in Libya to share information with local forces, however, she refused to provide any other details, the news outlet added.

The news comes a week after the United States began a new aerial campaign against Daesh at the request of and in coordination with Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA).

The US military has acknowledged that its Special Operations troops are active in Libya, following a report which revealed their presence in the war-torn North African country.

Pentagon acknowledges US ground forces active in Libya
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/08/10/479458/Pentagon-US-ground-forces-Libya

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that a number of US forces are providing direct, on-the-ground support to forces loyal to Libya's unity government in a fight against the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group.

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Gordon Trowbridge said on Wednesday a "small number" of American forces are going “in and out” of Libya.

"As with any military operation supporting another force, coordination and synchronization of effort is essential. To that end, a small number of US forces have gone in and out of Libya to exchange information with these local forces in established joint operations centers, and they will continue to do so as we strengthen the fight against [ISIL] and other terrorist organizations," Trowbridge said.

France, Germany, the US, Italy and the UK are worried about the mounting tensions near the Zueitina oil terminal in Libya, the Western governments said in a joint declaration on Wednesday.

Western States Worried by Tensions Near Libyan Oil Terminal
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160810/1044122775/west-libya-oil.html

"The governments of Germany, Spain, the United States, France, Italy and the United Kingdom express concern at the increasing tension reported near the oil terminal of Zueitina, in the central part of Libya," the declaration reads.

"They point out that the control over all facilities should return without preconditions, without reservation or delay into the hands of legitimate national authorities, recognized as such by the UN Security Council resolution 2259 (2015)," the declaration states.

On Sunday, Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) called on the rival armed factions to withhold from actions that might damage the oil terminal after reports of clashes at the eastern port emerged.

NOC indicated that there was an "imminent conflict" between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) in the vicinity of Zueitina.

Italy is resuming the operation of its embassy in Libya and has appointed Giuseppe Perrone as the Italian Ambassador to Libya, sources in the Palazzo Chigi, the official residence of the Italian Prime Minister, told journalists.

Italy to Reopen Embassy in Libya, Appointing New Ambassador
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160811/1044147584/italy-reopen-libya-embassy.html

The decision to reopen the embassy in Libya’s capital Tripoli, closed in February 2015, was made on Wednesday evening by Italy’s Council of Ministers.

Giuseppe Perrone, 49, who will now be Italy’s Ambassador to Libya, has served as Deputy Director General/Principal Director for the Mediterranean and Middle East of the Italian Foreign Ministry.

On Wednesday, Italian media reported that Rome was mulling a request made by Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Accord Fayez Sarraj regarding the provision of assistance in the form of military mine clearance training to the Libyan army.

Earlier on Wednesday, media reports emerged claiming that Italian special forces had already been deployed in Libya and Iraq where they fight against the Islamic State (ISIL, also known as Daesh) jihadist group, outlawed in a wide range of states.

Rome is considering a request regarding the provision of assistance in the form of military mine clearance training to the Libyan army.

Rome Mulls Tripoli Request to Carry Out Demining Training of Libyan Army
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160810/1044145026/romme-mulls-libya-army-training.html

Rome is considering a request made by Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Accord Fayez Sarraj regarding the provision of assistance in the form of military mine clearance training to the Libyan army, local media reported on Wednesday citing a source in the Italian government.

"The request has been received and the government is looking into it. For any new initiative [to be adopted], the government has to involve the Parliament," the Askanews cited its source, who noted that the Italian authorities have long been engaged in activities to aid and support the legitimate Libyan authorities, especially "in the field of humanitarian aid and providing help to the injured."

 

[angelburst29]

Re: Libya

Denmark could lead the mission aimed at preventing dangerous chemical substances from falling into the hands of extremist groups in Libya, according to the statement of the Danish Foreign Ministry.

Denmark Offers to Withdraw Chemical Weapons From Libya
http://sputniknews.com/world/20160815/1044289017/denmark-libya-chemical-weapons.html

Denmark will submit a motion Monday to lead a UN-backed international maritime operation to remove chemical weapons from Libya, the Danish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It will offer to provide the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which coordinates the effort, with a civil transport ship, a Danish Royal Navy support ship, and personnel.

"Denmark will once again demonstrate international responsibility by making a concrete contribution to the international effort to curb the global spread of chemical weapons. We therefore hope for as broad support from the parliament of this important operation as possible," Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen said.

Jensen stressed that the mission aimed at preventing dangerous chemical substances from falling into the hands of extremist groups, including Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) jihadist organization, banned in many countries including Russia.

The motion will go before the Danish parliament this Wednesday and will be put to a final vote on Friday. It is in line with the UN Security Council’s resolution of July 22, 2016 to withdraw Libya’s chemical arms stockpile, which is to be destroyed by Germany.

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said that Italy's main concern is to stabilize the situation in Libya in order to stem the influx of migrants heading for Italy, as well as countering the terrorist threat.

Italy Ready to Consider Helping Libya Create National Forces
http://sputniknews.com/world/20160815/1044281827/italy-libya-military-forces.html

Italy is ready to consider requests by Libya to help the country establish regular security forces, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said Monday.

"We will look into potential Libyan requests and their compliance with UN plans. We will see if we are asked to help with preparing regular forces, for example. Gradually transforming an archipelago of different militias into a regular armed presence is a crucial and difficult task. Starting with the presidential guard, it is then possible to move onto regular forces, including the police and military units of the Libyan government," Gentiloni said in an interview published by the Il Messaggero newspaper.

Italy's main concern is to stabilize the situation in the North African country in order to stem the influx of migrants heading for Italy, as well as countering the terrorist threat, he added.

The minister outlined the three points of Italy's policy on Libya, which include supporting the Government of National Accord (GNA), helping the country's rival fractions reach consensus and maintaining the unified international stance on the settlement of the Libyan conflict.

Earlier in August, the minister stated that Italy is not carrying out any combat missions in Libya but is allowing its military bases to be used to support the US airstrikes against jihadist groups in Libya.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Re: Libya

Libya’s GNA forces liberate another district in Sirte

http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/08/16/480314/Libya-Sirte-GNA

Forces loyal to Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) have liberated one of the last districts in the coastal city of Sirte as they continue to push the Daesh Takfiri terrorists out of their stronghold in the North African country.

Rida Issa, a spokesman for the GNA, said the city's neighborhood Number 2 was now under full control of the Libyan fighters loyal to the UN-backed government.

"On Tuesday morning, clashes erupted ... that led successfully to the recapture of neighborhood Number 2 with the cooperation of a tank unit to confront Daesh snipers," Issa said, adding, "The neighborhood is now completely under the control of our forces."

The pro-government forces achieved a major breakthrough against the terrorists on August 10, when they recaptured the Ouagadougou Conference Center, used by Daesh as a command center.

Sirte's mayor, Mokhtar Khalifa, said on August 11 that “70 percent” of the city had been liberated.

In recent weeks, the United States has also launched airstrikes on alleged Daesh positions in Libya.

Forces allied with the GNA began the offensive against the terror group in May to retake the city. The pro-government forces entered Sirte in June, but their advance was slowed down as Daesh hit back with sniper fire, car bombs and counterattacks.

Taking advantage of the chaos in Libya, Daesh took control of Sirte in June 2015, nearly four months after it declared presence in the city.

Foreign forces from several Western countries, including the US, France and Britain, are also in Libya in a purported fight against the Takfiri militants.

The GNA has denounced the presence of foreign troops, saying it violates Libya's sovereignty.