In Jufra and Sirte area, there have been dubious movements approximately a week ago, of large and continuous mobilization of Haftar’s militias and Janjaweed mercenaries.
In Misrata, a mass fire broke out at the International Airport on August 3, causing heavy damage to the departure lounge of the airport.
On the international level, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has revealed that there’s a proposal to surrender Sirte and Jufra to Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA), adding that talks are still ongoing.
JUFRA – SIRTE
- mercenaries of the Russian Wagner Group are en route to much-contested Sirte after leaving Jufra, the Libyan Army said in a statement on August 6. The Wagner mercenaries, which are fighting on behalf of Gen. Khalifa Haftar, are moving in a 21-vehicle convoy including four trucks and two ammunition carriers, the army of the United Nations-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) said in a Facebook post.”
- The Spokesman for the Ahrar Al-Jufra Group (Jufra Freedom Group), Mahmoud Ghomais, reported that there have been dubious movements in the Al-Jufra and Sirte areas approximately a week ago, confirming in a television statement, that his group has monitored large and continuous mobilization of Haftar’s militias and Janjaweed mercenaries in the Al-Jufra area.
MISRATA
- a mass fire broke out at Misrata International Airport last night, 3 August, causing heavy damage to the departure lounge of the airport. Fire-fighters rushed to the spot and managed to douse the flames, which could been seen from a distance, according to eye witnesses.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- the Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament said that there is a planned target, which has become clear to almost everyone now, to divide Libya into cantons led by armed militias serving foreign interests;
- the Algerian army warned situation in Libya is much “more dangerous than some might think.” In a press statement on August 6, the Algerian army stressed that Algeria’s position regarding the Libyan dossier is “based on the principles of resorting to dialogue and sitting at the negotiating table to settle the conflict.” For his part, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune warned that the situation in Libya could become similar to that of Syria due foreign interference;
- in a statement sent directly to Libya Herald by the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, the United States announced on August 6 that it has sanctioned a smuggling network that includes Libyans, a Maltese based company, and a vessel;
- the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has revealed that there’s a proposal to surrender Sirte and Jufra to Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA), adding that talks are still ongoing. Cavusoglu arrived on August 6 in Tripoli and met with the Head of the High Council of State (HCS) Khalid al-Mishri, holding after the meeting a joint press conference. The Turkish Foreign Minister indicated at the press conference that the situation in Libya is very complicated and Ankara has assured Russia, which backs warlord Haftar, that the political solution process is still ongoing. The Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu added that warlord Khalifa Haftar doesn’t believe in political solutions or even the ceasefire. Cavusoglu reiterated that Haftar’s backer, France, is looking away from the arms and military equipment being delivered to Haftar’s forces via Egypt and Syria;
- Libya, Turkey and Malta have issued a joint statement expressing reservations about the European Union’s Operation IRINI that aims to monitor implementation of the UN arms embargo in Libya. The joint statement on August 6 came after meetings for the Turkish and Maltese Foreign Ministers with Libyan officials in Tripoli. Turkish and Maltese Foreign Ministers as well as their Libyan counterpart have all voiced their reservations about IRINI naval mission, agreeing to boost their cooperation in different fields as the Maltese Foreign Minister and his Turkish counterpart reiterated support for the internationally recognized Government of National Accord, saying there can be no military solution to the crisis in Libya;
- the Head of the Presidential Council Fayez al-Sarraj met on August 6 in Tripoli the Turkish and Maltese Foreign Ministers, Mevlut Cavusoglu and Evarist Bartolo, discussing latest developments in Libya and ways to revive political solutions. The meeting saw discussions on cooperation among the three countries in different fields and helping Libya regain stability and revive its services sector, in addition to possible commercial flights’ line among from Libya to Malta and Turkey, the media office of Al-Sarraj said;
- the Libyan Foreign Minister Mohammed Sayala and the Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha have discussed on August 6 with the Maltese Foreign Minister Evarist Bartolo joint cooperation in economy and efforts to limit the flow of illegal immigrants. The meeting also went over cooperation in security, mine clearance and training of Libyan security personnel. The Maltese Foreign Minister said his country was willing to actively engage in cooperation with Libya in different fields for the best interests of the two countries, adding that the visit to Tripoli on Thursday aims at a partnership between Valetta and Tripoli’s Government of National Accord in economy, security and other sectors;
- the Head of the Libyan Presidential Council Fayez al-Sarraj has met on August 5 with the Italian Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini in Tripoli and has reiterated that any ceasefire agreement should ensure Haftar doesn’t position his forces in locations that allow him to wage another war;
- the White House on August 4 called for a demilitarized solution at Libya’s Sirte-Jufra de facto ceasefire line and an immediate reopening of its oil sector. The call came in a statement on Libya from U.S. National Security Adviser Robert C. O’Brien.
