WAR Regional conflict brewing in the Mediterranean
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Libya's war: Who is supporting who
Al Jazeera takes a look at the foreign actors invested in the Libyan conflict and who they are siding with.
by Ramy Allahoum
7 hours ago
Fighters loyal to the UN-recognised GNA gather at the front line south of Tripoli [File: Mahmud Turkia/AFP]
MORE ON LIBYA
After months of fighting, forces aligned with the United Nations-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), based in Tripoli, have largely prevented Haftar, who is affiliated with a rival administration in the east, from seizing the city.
More:
As more foreign actors jostle for influence in Libya, Al Jazeera takes a look at the powers looking to shape events in the war-wracked country and who they are siding with.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is seen by many experts as one of Haftar's main supporters, having supplied him with advanced weapon systems in violation of a 2011 UN arms embargo imposed at the beginning of an uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) has relied heavily on UAE air support, which includes the suspected deployment of Chinese-made Wing Loong II drones during its months-long offensive against the GNA.
OPINION
Qatar, the UAE and the Libya connection
by Guma El-Gamaty
A UN report released in November said the UAE also supplied Haftar with the Russian-made Pantsir S-1 advanced air defence system that was installed at the al-Jufra base near the town of Gharyan.
"The complexity and costs of the system make it very unlikely that the United Arab Emirates has supplied it to any other entity who could have subsequently transferred it to Libya," the report said.
A separate UN report in 2017 said the Gulf country built an airbase at Al Khadim in eastern Libya and provided Haftar with aircraft as well as military vehicles.
The UAE considers Haftar a trusted partner capable of curbing the spread of political Islam, most notably the Muslim Brotherhood.
"Abu Dhabi has no tolerance for political Islam, including its most moderate manifestations," Jalel Harchaoui, a research fellow at the Clingendael Institute and Libya expert, told Al Jazeera.
"The only way for them to sleep easy at night and be sure proponents of political Islam do not wield any power in Libya is to prop up strict autocracy instead.
"The fact that the Muslim Brotherhood happens to be very weak politically in Libya is not going to reassure or appease the Emiratis. The latter prefer erring on the safe side, by combating any form of democratic opening, whether legitimate, corrupt or dysfunctional."
Egypt
Like Abu Dhabi, Cairo's aversion to the Muslim Brotherhood has meant that it found in Haftar a natural ally.
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi took power after a 2013 military coup that toppled Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected head of state and a member of the Brotherhood. The group was outlawed that same year and declared a "terrorist" organisation by Egyptian authorities.
For Cairo, the GNA's makeup, one that accepts the participation of groups such as the Brotherhood - already an important component of the UN-recognised government - in the political decision-making process, constitutes a major red line.
Haftar's endorsement by wealthy Gulf states, his military background and ability to rein in armed groups in eastern Libya's sparsely populated desert region have also earned him the support of el-Sisi.
Egypt has used its vast border with Libya to funnel weapons and provide logistical support to Haftar, according to Libyan officials and Egyptian foreign ministry documents seen by Al Jazeera.
During a recent trip to Cairo, Haftar - who received part of his military training in Egypt - said he would take over Tripoli "within hours" if Egypt were to send troops to assist his forces.
France
French President Emmanuel Macron has officially backed efforts for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Libya.
That stance, however, is counterweighed by France's diplomatic support for Haftar, which includes the blocking of a European Union statement calling on the renegade military commander to halt his assault on the capital, prompting GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in April to accuse the Macron administration of backing a "dictator".
There are also concerns that France is providing Haftar with military support.
Tunisia's border guard in April denied entry to 13 French nationals attempting to cross into its territory after the group failed to disclose weapons it had in its possession.
Quoting a "well-placed source" at Tunisia's presidential palace, Radio France International reported the men were not diplomats as claimed but intelligence agents.
In June, US-made Javelin missiles belonging to France were found at a base used by Haftar's troops in the town of Gharyan, located some 80km (50 miles) south of Tripoli.
In 2016, a French helicopter crashed near Benghazi, killing three soldiers, during what then-President Francois Hollande described as a "dangerous intelligence operation". The GNA said the incident was a "violation" of its sovereignty.
Russia
Much like France, Russia has publicly supported the UN's mediation efforts led by Special Envoy Ghassan Salame. Moscow, however, in April blocked a UN Security Council statement that would have called on the Libyan commander to halt his advance on Tripoli.
Russian mercenaries from the private Wagner group have also reportedly joined the battle alongside Haftar's forces.
Analysts say that, if true, this could not have happened without the Kremlin's greenlight and suggests a push by Russia to establish itself as a new power broker in the region.
"While Russia may lack the political capital to launch an Astana-like process in Libya, its gamble on the inaction of its counterparts may still position it as a power broker," wrote Emadeddin Badi, a non-resident fellow at the Middle East Institute, recently.
Moscow denies sending troops to back Haftar.
United States
The US was among the states that supported the efforts that led to the GNA's creation in late 2015. But soon after taking office in January 2017, US President Donald Trump said he did not see a "role" in Libya.
"I think the United States has right now enough roles. We are in a role everywhere," Trump said in April the following year.
But Washington began to send mixed signals shortly after Haftar launched his offensive on Tripoli.
In an April 19 phone conversation with Haftar, who is also a US citizen, Trump recognised "Field Marshall Haftar's significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya's oil resources".
Washington in July blocked a UNSC statement condemning an air raid on a migrant detention centre that killed more than 40 people, which the GNA blamed on the US ally UAE.
Saudi Arabia
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported in April that Saudi Arabia offered tens of millions of dollars to help fund Haftar's Tripoli offensive.
According to the US publication, the offer came during a visit by Haftar to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in late March 2019, days before the launch of his assault on Tripoli.
Citing senior advisers to the Saudi government, the WSJ said the offer of funds, which Haftar accepted, was intended to buy the loyalty of tribal leaders, recruit and pay fighters and other such military purposes.
However, Riyadh, which views the Muslim Brotherhood with the same level of apprehension as the neighbouring UAE, has been bogged down by a conflict of its own in Yemen.
Sudan/Jordan
A report by the UNSC Libya sanctions committee in November accused Sudan and the head of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemeti, of violating UN sanctions by deploying 1,000 troops to Libya.
Citing Sudanese military commanders in Libya, The Guardian said in December that as many as 3,000 Sudanese soldiers were participating in Haftar's military campaign. They included fighters from the impoverished Darfur region.
Jordan is another country that is mentioned in the report.
Turkey
Turkey has been one of the GNA's foremost supporters since its inception in 2015.
Ankara has stepped up its military support for the GNA in the face of Haftar's military campaign.
In addition to armoured vehicles, the GNA was reported to have bought 20 Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey last summer.
Ankara has started deploying troops to Libya, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, after parliament recently approved the move. He said the objective of the deployment was "not to fight" but "to support the legitimate government and avoid a humanitarian tragedy".
The move follows the signing of two agreements in November relating to maritime border demarcation and enhanced security cooperation between Ankara and the GNA.
The maritime border delineation deal is a way for Ankara to affirm its position as a leading power in the region, according to analysts, who are quick to point out that drilling rights in the contested seabed only tell part of the story.
"Turkey is going to Libya to make sure that any discussion in the Mediterranean includes Ankara because neighbouring countries are trying to exclude it," Samdi Hamdi, the editor in chief of the International Interest, told Al Jazeera.
"If Libya falls under Haftar, who is an ally of the UAE, which in turn is antagonistic to Turkey, that essentially puts all of Turkish maritime interests in the Mediterranean at the mercy of the UAE, Egypt and Greece."
Qatar
Qatar's dispute with its Gulf neighbours is reflected in the Libyan theatre where Doha supports a Tripoli government that is more tolerant of Islamist elements - such as the Muslim Brotherhood - than the Haftar-affiliated House of Representatives (HoR), which in turn enjoys the support of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Doha had played a key financial and military role in the 2011 overthrow of Gaddafi but has since taken a backseat with its support for GNA tempered and limited to diplomatic backing.
Italy
Italy has maintained strict neutrality throughout the conflict raging across the Mediterranean.
Though supportive of the internationally-recognised GNA, Rome advocates for a comprehensive peace process that would incorporate all segments of Libyan society, which it knows well as the country's former occupying power.
In April, Italy's then-Interior Minister Matteo Salvini warned France against supporting any of the warring factions for "economic or commercial reasons" after Paris blocked the EU's call for restraint.
Analysts say Italy is concerned France is trying to usurp Italian oil giant ENI's privileged position in the North African country.
www.aljazeera.com
Al Jazeera takes a look at the foreign actors invested in the Libyan conflict and who they are siding with.
by Ramy Allahoum
7 hours ago
Fighters loyal to the UN-recognised GNA gather at the front line south of Tripoli [File: Mahmud Turkia/AFP]
MORE ON LIBYA
- Libya's war: Who is supporting whotoday
- Putin and Erdogan call for Libya ceasefireyesterday
- How is outside intervention shaping Libya's future?yesterday
- Libya: GNA-aligned forces say they quit Sirte to avoid bloodshed2 days ago
After months of fighting, forces aligned with the United Nations-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), based in Tripoli, have largely prevented Haftar, who is affiliated with a rival administration in the east, from seizing the city.
More:
- Turkey's parliament approves military deployment to Libya
- Multiple foreign armed groups involved in Libya conflict: UN
- Haftar issues 'call to arms' over possible Turkey intervention
As more foreign actors jostle for influence in Libya, Al Jazeera takes a look at the powers looking to shape events in the war-wracked country and who they are siding with.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is seen by many experts as one of Haftar's main supporters, having supplied him with advanced weapon systems in violation of a 2011 UN arms embargo imposed at the beginning of an uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) has relied heavily on UAE air support, which includes the suspected deployment of Chinese-made Wing Loong II drones during its months-long offensive against the GNA.
OPINION
by Guma El-Gamaty
A UN report released in November said the UAE also supplied Haftar with the Russian-made Pantsir S-1 advanced air defence system that was installed at the al-Jufra base near the town of Gharyan.
"The complexity and costs of the system make it very unlikely that the United Arab Emirates has supplied it to any other entity who could have subsequently transferred it to Libya," the report said.
A separate UN report in 2017 said the Gulf country built an airbase at Al Khadim in eastern Libya and provided Haftar with aircraft as well as military vehicles.
The UAE considers Haftar a trusted partner capable of curbing the spread of political Islam, most notably the Muslim Brotherhood.
"Abu Dhabi has no tolerance for political Islam, including its most moderate manifestations," Jalel Harchaoui, a research fellow at the Clingendael Institute and Libya expert, told Al Jazeera.
"The only way for them to sleep easy at night and be sure proponents of political Islam do not wield any power in Libya is to prop up strict autocracy instead.
"The fact that the Muslim Brotherhood happens to be very weak politically in Libya is not going to reassure or appease the Emiratis. The latter prefer erring on the safe side, by combating any form of democratic opening, whether legitimate, corrupt or dysfunctional."
Egypt
Like Abu Dhabi, Cairo's aversion to the Muslim Brotherhood has meant that it found in Haftar a natural ally.
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi took power after a 2013 military coup that toppled Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected head of state and a member of the Brotherhood. The group was outlawed that same year and declared a "terrorist" organisation by Egyptian authorities.
For Cairo, the GNA's makeup, one that accepts the participation of groups such as the Brotherhood - already an important component of the UN-recognised government - in the political decision-making process, constitutes a major red line.
Haftar's endorsement by wealthy Gulf states, his military background and ability to rein in armed groups in eastern Libya's sparsely populated desert region have also earned him the support of el-Sisi.
Egypt has used its vast border with Libya to funnel weapons and provide logistical support to Haftar, according to Libyan officials and Egyptian foreign ministry documents seen by Al Jazeera.
During a recent trip to Cairo, Haftar - who received part of his military training in Egypt - said he would take over Tripoli "within hours" if Egypt were to send troops to assist his forces.
France
French President Emmanuel Macron has officially backed efforts for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Libya.
That stance, however, is counterweighed by France's diplomatic support for Haftar, which includes the blocking of a European Union statement calling on the renegade military commander to halt his assault on the capital, prompting GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in April to accuse the Macron administration of backing a "dictator".
There are also concerns that France is providing Haftar with military support.
Tunisia's border guard in April denied entry to 13 French nationals attempting to cross into its territory after the group failed to disclose weapons it had in its possession.
Quoting a "well-placed source" at Tunisia's presidential palace, Radio France International reported the men were not diplomats as claimed but intelligence agents.
In June, US-made Javelin missiles belonging to France were found at a base used by Haftar's troops in the town of Gharyan, located some 80km (50 miles) south of Tripoli.
In 2016, a French helicopter crashed near Benghazi, killing three soldiers, during what then-President Francois Hollande described as a "dangerous intelligence operation". The GNA said the incident was a "violation" of its sovereignty.
Russia
Much like France, Russia has publicly supported the UN's mediation efforts led by Special Envoy Ghassan Salame. Moscow, however, in April blocked a UN Security Council statement that would have called on the Libyan commander to halt his advance on Tripoli.
Russian mercenaries from the private Wagner group have also reportedly joined the battle alongside Haftar's forces.
Analysts say that, if true, this could not have happened without the Kremlin's greenlight and suggests a push by Russia to establish itself as a new power broker in the region.
"While Russia may lack the political capital to launch an Astana-like process in Libya, its gamble on the inaction of its counterparts may still position it as a power broker," wrote Emadeddin Badi, a non-resident fellow at the Middle East Institute, recently.
Moscow denies sending troops to back Haftar.
United States
The US was among the states that supported the efforts that led to the GNA's creation in late 2015. But soon after taking office in January 2017, US President Donald Trump said he did not see a "role" in Libya.
"I think the United States has right now enough roles. We are in a role everywhere," Trump said in April the following year.
But Washington began to send mixed signals shortly after Haftar launched his offensive on Tripoli.
In an April 19 phone conversation with Haftar, who is also a US citizen, Trump recognised "Field Marshall Haftar's significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya's oil resources".
Washington in July blocked a UNSC statement condemning an air raid on a migrant detention centre that killed more than 40 people, which the GNA blamed on the US ally UAE.
Saudi Arabia
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported in April that Saudi Arabia offered tens of millions of dollars to help fund Haftar's Tripoli offensive.
According to the US publication, the offer came during a visit by Haftar to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in late March 2019, days before the launch of his assault on Tripoli.
Citing senior advisers to the Saudi government, the WSJ said the offer of funds, which Haftar accepted, was intended to buy the loyalty of tribal leaders, recruit and pay fighters and other such military purposes.
However, Riyadh, which views the Muslim Brotherhood with the same level of apprehension as the neighbouring UAE, has been bogged down by a conflict of its own in Yemen.
Sudan/Jordan
A report by the UNSC Libya sanctions committee in November accused Sudan and the head of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemeti, of violating UN sanctions by deploying 1,000 troops to Libya.
Citing Sudanese military commanders in Libya, The Guardian said in December that as many as 3,000 Sudanese soldiers were participating in Haftar's military campaign. They included fighters from the impoverished Darfur region.
Jordan is another country that is mentioned in the report.
Turkey
Turkey has been one of the GNA's foremost supporters since its inception in 2015.
Ankara has stepped up its military support for the GNA in the face of Haftar's military campaign.
In addition to armoured vehicles, the GNA was reported to have bought 20 Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey last summer.
Ankara has started deploying troops to Libya, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, after parliament recently approved the move. He said the objective of the deployment was "not to fight" but "to support the legitimate government and avoid a humanitarian tragedy".
The move follows the signing of two agreements in November relating to maritime border demarcation and enhanced security cooperation between Ankara and the GNA.
The maritime border delineation deal is a way for Ankara to affirm its position as a leading power in the region, according to analysts, who are quick to point out that drilling rights in the contested seabed only tell part of the story.
"Turkey is going to Libya to make sure that any discussion in the Mediterranean includes Ankara because neighbouring countries are trying to exclude it," Samdi Hamdi, the editor in chief of the International Interest, told Al Jazeera.
"If Libya falls under Haftar, who is an ally of the UAE, which in turn is antagonistic to Turkey, that essentially puts all of Turkish maritime interests in the Mediterranean at the mercy of the UAE, Egypt and Greece."
Qatar
Qatar's dispute with its Gulf neighbours is reflected in the Libyan theatre where Doha supports a Tripoli government that is more tolerant of Islamist elements - such as the Muslim Brotherhood - than the Haftar-affiliated House of Representatives (HoR), which in turn enjoys the support of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Doha had played a key financial and military role in the 2011 overthrow of Gaddafi but has since taken a backseat with its support for GNA tempered and limited to diplomatic backing.
Italy
Italy has maintained strict neutrality throughout the conflict raging across the Mediterranean.
Though supportive of the internationally-recognised GNA, Rome advocates for a comprehensive peace process that would incorporate all segments of Libyan society, which it knows well as the country's former occupying power.
In April, Italy's then-Interior Minister Matteo Salvini warned France against supporting any of the warring factions for "economic or commercial reasons" after Paris blocked the EU's call for restraint.
Analysts say Italy is concerned France is trying to usurp Italian oil giant ENI's privileged position in the North African country.
Libya’s war: Who is supporting whom
Al Jazeera takes a look at the foreign actors invested in the Libyan conflict and who they are siding with.
Plain Jane
Just Plain Jane
Zerohedge
ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
www.zerohedge.com
Libya's Haftar Rejects Russia-Turkey Ceasefire Plan After Huge Advances
by Tyler Durden
Thu, 01/09/2020 - 22:45
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When Russia's President Putin attended the launch ceremony for the TurkStream natural gas pipeline this week, at the top of the list of difficult geopolitical crises addressed with Turkey's Erdogan was the rapidly unfolding Libya war.
Some analysts say that the new Libya conflict and war for control of the oil and gas rich North African country between Benghazi-based Gen. Khalifa Haftar and the UN-recognized GNA in Tripoli is set to dominate world headlines in 2020 alongside the US-Iran showdown. Pundits were surprised when on Wednesday the Turkish and Russian presidents agreed to jointly issue an urgent call for ceasefire in Libya proposed to start from Saturday (Jan.12) midnight.
That surprise cooperative agreement (given Russia and Turkey back separate sides of the war) to come to the negotiating table was swiftly rejected Thursday by Haftar and his Libyan National Army (LNA). This as the death toll continues to climb as Haftar is vowing the ongoing siege of Tripoli is the "final offensive" to wrest control of the city. Haftar went so far as the call his offensive a war against "terrorists" that cannot cease until definitive victory.
Prior Russian defense minister meeting with Gen. Khalifa Haftar, via Mil.ruIn a video statement, Haftar's military spokesman said, "We welcome [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's call for a ceasefire. However, our fight against terrorist organizations that seized Tripoli and received support of some countries will continue until the end," according to Al Jazeera.
At least 1,000 people have been killed since the LNA's military offensive began months ago — though fighting has been sporadic for years — with at least 5,000 others wounded, according to United Nations estimates.
Meanwhile, Turkish troops are said to have touched down in the Libyan capital earlier this week after Turkey's parliament voted through a plan for military assistance to the besieged GNA. This after reports that Ankara has actually sent Turkish-backed Syrian militants with the FSA as mercenaries to assist in the campaign.
Currently pro-Haftar forces are claiming to be a mere few kilometers away from the center of Tripoli. “The Libyan Army is now in Tripoli, and they are positioned only a few kilometers from the city center,” an LNA military spokesman said in an Arabic statement Thursday.
Also crucial is that days ago the LNA said it captured Sirte, held by forces loyal to the GNA since 2016, which lies some 280 miles east of the capital Tripoli, and was an important highly modernized city previously favored for development under Gaddafi before his 2011 summary execution by NATO-backed 'rebels'.
The seizure of Sirte, now confirmed under Gen. Haftar's control, is considered a major blow to the Tripoli unity government.
But a military stalemate is likely to continue, considering Turkey has vowed to prevent a Haftar takeover of the country over the objections of his backers like Egypt and the UAE. For this reason the LNA has been given orders to shoot at any Turkish plane or ship which enters Libyan space. Already Turkish drones have reportedly been downed on a couple of occasions over the past month.
jward
passin' thru
hey where's the map man, where's the arabian sea, arrgh.. : )
....will tuck this here, for now, it's all the same dance, right, just different ballrooms...
Intel Air & Sea (@air_intel) Tweeted:
The US 5th fleet have released video from 09/01/20 of the USS Farragut in the Arabian Sea being approached in an aggressive manner by a Russian Navy vessel U.S. 5th Fleet on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/air_intel/status/1215662103606054913?s=20
....will tuck this here, for now, it's all the same dance, right, just different ballrooms...
Intel Air & Sea (@air_intel) Tweeted:
The US 5th fleet have released video from 09/01/20 of the USS Farragut in the Arabian Sea being approached in an aggressive manner by a Russian Navy vessel U.S. 5th Fleet on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/air_intel/status/1215662103606054913?s=20
jward
passin' thru
Mete Sohtaoğlu (@metesohtaoglu) Tweeted:
Ahmed Abdulsamad, journalist from #Iraq,#Basra and cameraman Safa al-Ghali were killed today 3 hours after posting a video accusing the #Iran backed militias(Iraq Army) arresting journalists for covering #Iraq Protests.
Mete Sohtaoğlu on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/metesohtaoglu/status/1215679569291874304?s=20
Ahmed Abdulsamad, journalist from #Iraq,#Basra and cameraman Safa al-Ghali were killed today 3 hours after posting a video accusing the #Iran backed militias(Iraq Army) arresting journalists for covering #Iraq Protests.
Mete Sohtaoğlu on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/metesohtaoglu/status/1215679569291874304?s=20
danielboon
TB Fanatic
[B]U.S. 5th Fleet[/B]Verified account @[B]US5thFleet[/B] 2h2 hours ago
More
While the Russian ship took action, the initial delay in complying with international rules while it was making an aggressive approach increased the risk of collision. The U.S. Navy continues to remain vigilant and is trained to act in a professional manner.
More
While the Russian ship took action, the initial delay in complying with international rules while it was making an aggressive approach increased the risk of collision. The U.S. Navy continues to remain vigilant and is trained to act in a professional manner.
danielboon
TB Fanatic
I like the sailor heading to the back of the ship. With all the confindence that he could just punch the hull and push the Russians out of the way.
Seeker22
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Wouldn't want actual truth leaking out, now would they?
jward
passin' thru
apologies yet again if I am jumping in the wrong pool with info...really, I need slower, quieter times, cliff notes, & coloured maps & sticky notes to keep all this straight...j
Lucas Tomlinson
@LucasFoxNews
14m
U.S. military says 2 American service members killed, 2 wounded in roadside bombing in southern Afghanistan: statement
Lucas Tomlinson
@LucasFoxNews
14m
U.S. military says 2 American service members killed, 2 wounded in roadside bombing in southern Afghanistan: statement
jward
passin' thru
EMSC (@LastQuake) Tweeted:
#Earthquake (#deprem) possibly felt 2 min ago in #İstanbul #Turkey. Felt it? See Earthquakes - Earthquake today - Latest Earthquakes in the World - EMSC EMSC on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/LastQuake/status/1215991342410715136?s=20
#Earthquake (#deprem) possibly felt 2 min ago in #İstanbul #Turkey. Felt it? See Earthquakes - Earthquake today - Latest Earthquakes in the World - EMSC EMSC on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/LastQuake/status/1215991342410715136?s=20
jward
passin' thru
Reuters (@Reuters) Tweeted:
Migrant rescue ship Open Arms rescued 120 migrants from two overcrowded rubber dinghies off the coast of Libya Reuters on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1216044599845761029?s=20
Migrant rescue ship Open Arms rescued 120 migrants from two overcrowded rubber dinghies off the coast of Libya Reuters on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1216044599845761029?s=20
jward
passin' thru
well, not long lived, eh...even by cease fire standards..?
EndGameWW3
@EndGameWW3
·
9m
Haftar's 9th Brigade militia rejects the truce and opens fire on the Al-Zatarna axis.
EndGameWW3
@EndGameWW3
·
9m
Haftar's 9th Brigade militia rejects the truce and opens fire on the Al-Zatarna axis.
jward
passin' thru
ΠΑΝΟΣ GR
@PANOS249546646
·
35m
Replying to
@LNA2019M
the cease-fire is only an excuse for the Turks in bringing more weapons and jihadis. To accept cease-fire Haftar must demand the turks to leave the country immediately
@PANOS249546646
·
35m
Replying to
@LNA2019M
the cease-fire is only an excuse for the Turks in bringing more weapons and jihadis. To accept cease-fire Haftar must demand the turks to leave the country immediately
jward
passin' thru
M.LNA (@LNA2019M) Tweeted:
#LNA forces have downed a #GNA UAV #Tripoli 128th brigade.
#Libya M.LNA on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/LNA2019M/status/1216361141812842502?s=20
#LNA forces have downed a #GNA UAV #Tripoli 128th brigade.
#Libya M.LNA on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/LNA2019M/status/1216361141812842502?s=20
jward
passin' thru
this one's holding up for hours even...
Aleph ᴼⁿ ᴴⁱᵍʰ ᴬˡᵉʳᵗ ️ א (@no_itsmyturn) Tweeted:
Now seems official.
#Libya AFP news agency on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/no_itsmyturn/status/1216523983430017030?s=20
Aleph ᴼⁿ ᴴⁱᵍʰ ᴬˡᵉʳᵗ ️ א (@no_itsmyturn) Tweeted:
Now seems official.
#Libya AFP news agency on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/no_itsmyturn/status/1216523983430017030?s=20
jward
passin' thru
M.LNA (@LNA2019M) Tweeted:
General commander of the Libyan National Army has just arrived at Moscow.
#Libya #LNA #GNA M.LNA on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/LNA2019M/status/1216596128025731072?s=20
General commander of the Libyan National Army has just arrived at Moscow.
#Libya #LNA #GNA M.LNA on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/LNA2019M/status/1216596128025731072?s=20
jward
passin' thru
M.LNA (@LNA2019M) Tweeted:
#LNA forces have captured
Wadi Zamzm - AbuGrian - As Saddada .south of misrata
With #misrata militias retreating to AlSddada bridge. M.LNA on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/LNA2019M/status/1216594139200020480?s=20
#LNA forces have captured
Wadi Zamzm - AbuGrian - As Saddada .south of misrata
With #misrata militias retreating to AlSddada bridge. M.LNA on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/LNA2019M/status/1216594139200020480?s=20
jward
passin' thru
Reports: Libyan Rivals May Sign Truce In Moscow On January 13
A cease-fire to end nearly a decade of fighting in Libya is expected to be signed in Moscow on January 13, a senior Libyan official said, as cited by AFP.
Speaking on a local news channel, the head of Libya’s High Council of State, Khaled al-Mechri, said the chief of the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) and militia commander Khalifa Haftar are scheduled to sign a cease-fire in the Russian capital.
The head of the Russian contact group on Libya, Lev Dengov, told Interfax that Haftar and GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj will meet to discuss "the possibility of signing a truce and the details of such a document."
A truce had gone into effect a day earlier between forces loyal to eastern Libyan strongman Haftar and the GNA government in Tripoli.
The last time Sarraj and Haftar met was in Palermo, Italy, on November 13, 2018, before the militia commander announced a campaign to take Tripoli.
Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) said the truce was conditional on acceptance by the GNA.
"Any breach will be met with a harsh response," LNA spokesman Ahmad Mismari said in a video statement.
In a statement posted online early on January 12, the GNA said: "In response to the Turkish president and the Russian president's call for a cease-fire, the head of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord announces a cease-fire starting 00:00 on Jan. 12."
The GNA had previously welcomed the call for a cease-fire but said its responsibility was to protect its citizens.
The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said it welcomed the truce and called on all sides "to strictly abide by the cease-fire and make room for peaceful efforts to address all disputes through a Libyan-Libyan dialogue."
A day earlier, Haftar’s LNA had said it would not halt its campaign to drive the UN-backed government from Tripoli amid calls from Russia and Turkey for a cease-fire.
Many observers say a truce will be hard to maintain given the fractious, unsteady nature of Libya’s military alliances.
Libya has been torn by violence since longtime ruler Muammar Qaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011.
The country has two rival administrations, the UN-backed GNA in Tripoli and Haftar's in the city of Tobruk.
The GNA is supported by NATO-member Turkey and its ally Qatar. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that he had dispatched military elements to Libya to ensure stability for the GNA.
UN experts and diplomats say that Russian military contractors in recent months have deployed alongside Haftar's LNA, which has also received air support from the United Arab Emirates and backing from Jordan and Egypt.
Turkey and Russia have both been criticized by UN and Western officials who say their efforts to arm their allies have led to an intensification of the violence.
Putin has denied any direct military involvement in the Libyan conflict.
While delivering a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Moscow on January 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked whether Russian mercenaries, including private military contractors, are fighting in Libya.
“If there are Russian citizens there, they don’t represent the interests of the Russian state and don’t receive money from the Russian government,” Putin said.
Merkel said she hoped the "Turkish-Russian [cease-fire] efforts will be successful."
Berlin and Moscow are acting as mediators in the conflict, which Germany has warned could become a "second Syria."
Putin said, "I am really counting on the opposing sides in Libya ceasing fire, ceasing armed combat...within a few hours," Putin said.
"It's important to bring an end to the armed confrontation,” he added.
With reporting by Reuters, AFP, TASS, Interfax, Current Time, and dpa
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- Reports: Libyan Rivals May Sign Truce In Moscow On January 13
danielboon
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soon the ottoman empire will be back
danielboon
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[B]EndGameWW3[/B] @[B]EndGameWW3[/B]
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EndGameWW3 Retweeted الحدث
Sources of the event: Russia did not send any invitation to a direct meeting between Haftar and Al-Sarraj
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EndGameWW3 Retweeted الحدث
Sources of the event: Russia did not send any invitation to a direct meeting between Haftar and Al-Sarraj
jward
passin' thru
Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) Tweeted:
BREAKING — Here is the Libya ceasefire deal according to GNA Spox @HamedAlzwy1 Ragıp Soylu on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/status/1216729606750900226?s=20
BREAKING — Here is the Libya ceasefire deal according to GNA Spox @HamedAlzwy1 Ragıp Soylu on Twitter View: https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/status/1216729606750900226?s=20
jward
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danielboon
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[B]EndGameWW3[/B] Retweeted
[IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1683746657/Shield_bigger.jpg[/IMG][B]Libyan Cossack[/B] @[B]AgEnTX19[/B] 1h1 hour ago
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Libyan Cossack Retweeted صحيفة الشاهد الليبية
Lavrov: Haftar and Aguila Saleh requested the inclusion of additional clauses in order to sign the agreement.#Libya #Russia #Moscow
[IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1683746657/Shield_bigger.jpg[/IMG][B]Libyan Cossack[/B] @[B]AgEnTX19[/B] 1h1 hour ago
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Libyan Cossack Retweeted صحيفة الشاهد الليبية
Lavrov: Haftar and Aguila Saleh requested the inclusion of additional clauses in order to sign the agreement.