In Tajoura, according to GNA, “Khalifa Haftar’s UAE and Egypt-backed air force” bombed Tajoura Detention Center in east Tripoli Tuesday night killing at least 44 migrants and wounding more than 130 others. Shortly after the heinous airstrike, Haftar’s media outlets claimed their air force had targeted “terrorist and militia camps”.
In Tripoli,the Commander of the Air Force Operations Room of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Major General Mohammed al-Manfur, announced the launch of an air operation called “Aqibat al-Ghadr” (Treachery Consequence). “The armed forces have exhausted all the traditional means of war in order to liberate the rest of Libyan soil,” al-Manfur said.
On the international level, the divided UN Security Council on Wednesday failed to condemn an attack on a detention center for migrants in Tajoura, east of Tripoli after the United States did not endorse a proposed statement, diplomats said.
AJDABIYA
- the six Turkish nationals detained in Ajdabiya, eastern Libya, were released on July 1 after Turkey threatened military action. The six turned out to be sailors working on a Libyan ship and not military personnel, as had been reported. The Turkish nationals were detained after eastern Libya authorities cut all ties with Turkey on Friday, threatening to arrest Turkish citizens and target all Turkish interests in Libya, including flights and shipping. The announcement by eastern Libya came after their Libyan National Army (LNA) forces led by Khalifa Haftar lost the strategic western mountain city of Gharian to a surprise attack by Tripoli-aligned forces. The mainly eastern based LNA forces accuse Turkey of supporting Tripoli in its war effort against them [Libya Herald, 01.07.2019].
GHARIAN
- the Libyan National Army (LNA) Air Force continued targeting the armed militias allied with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) as part of the operation “Treachery Consequence” launched by LNA Air Force Operations Room earlier this month. The media center of Al-Karama Operations Room of LNA said Saturday that LNA warplanes destroyed a convoy in the air force operations area in the city of Gharyan. For its part, the Air Force Operations Room said that air force planes on Friday targeted the positions of militias and their mobile vehicles in Tajoura and Gharian [Address Libya, 06.07.2019].
MURZUQ
- witnesses in the city of Murzuq told reported that a force of the Chadian opposition entered the city on Friday night by four-wheel vehicles and with heavy and light weapons. The Libyan National Army (LNA) stationed there clashed with them. In a related context, the Media Center of the LNA 73rd Infantry announced on Friday that LNA forces engaged in clashes with an armed group that entered Murzuq led by Boubaker al-Souqi. The Media Center added that “the situation is good in Murzuq after local stopped Al-Souqi’s group and prevented them from entering the city neighborhoods.” [Address Libya, 07.07.2019].
SABRATHA
- the Libyan National Army announced it had arrested a number of sleeper cells in the town of Sabratha west of Tripoli planning a terrorist operation inside the city. “The arrest of sleeper cells in Sabratha with arms and ammunition planning for a terrorist operation and disrupting security and stability in the city,” the media center of Dignity Operations Room said. The Libyan National Army took control of the city of Sabratha in early April at the beginning of the Flood of Dignity Operation to liberate Tripoli from the grip of extremist and human trafficking militias allied with the government of Fayez al-Sirraj [Address Libya, 07.07.2019].
TAJOURA
- According to GNA, “Khalifa Haftar’s UAE and Egypt-backed air force” bombed Tajoura Detention Center in east Tripoli Tuesday night killing at least 44 migrants and wounding more than 130 others. The air raid came after threats by Haftar to intensify night airstrikes on Tripoli in retaliation for their defeat in the mountain city of Gharian. Shortly after the heinous airstrike, Haftar’s media outlets claimed their air force had targeted “terrorist and militia camps” in Tajoura. The Presidential Council condemned the massacre, demanding the international community to take a stance towards these heinous crimes. The UN mission in Libya has also condemned the airstrike [Libya Observer, 03.07.2019].
TARHUNA
- the ground defenses of the Libyan National Army (LNA) shot down Thursday evening a warplane of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) in Weshtata area, located between Tarhuna and Bani Walid.The warplane’s pilot was killed after his aircraft crashed in an uninhabited area. The L36 aircraft was targeted by LNA after it carried out airstrikes in Tarhuna [Address Libya, 04.07.2019];
- a drone of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) bombed areas in the city of Tarhuna on Tuesday, as the Libyan National Army (LNA) forces continued their advance south of Tripoli and took control of the strategic area of Kassarat Abu Arqoub south of Al-Sabaiaa. Civilians in Tarhuna continue to be subjected to aerial bombardment by GNA militias drones, which take off from the Air Force College in Misrata, in a recurring scene described by Tarhuna Municipal Council as internationally prohibited war crimes [Address Libya, 02.07.2019].
TRIPOLI
- the Commander of the Air Force Operations Room of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Major General Mohammed al-Manfur, announced the launch of an air operation called “Aqibat al-Ghadr” (Treachery Consequence). “The armed forces have exhausted all the traditional means of war in order to liberate the rest of Libyan soil,” al-Manfur said. “After the recent deception and treachery, LNA Forces have begun to carry out strong and precise air strikes at carefully selected locations in Tripoli,” he added. “We announce the launch of an air operation under the name of Aqibat al-Ghadr,” the Commander said. He called on civilians in Tripoli to stay away from military positions [Address Libya, 01.07.2019].
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- the Peace and Security Council of the African Union has condemned, in the strongest terms possible, what it described “the savage attack” on Tajoura Migrant Detention Centre, east Tripoli, which left more than 50 migrants dead and hundreds wounded [Libya Observer, 07.07.2019];
- the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his support for Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) on Friday, according to Turkish presidential sources. Erdoğan met with the Head of Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez Al-Sarraj, at Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul and discussed bilateral relations between Turkey and Libya [Libyan Express, 06.07.2019];
- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he was worried that militants were flowing into Libya from Syria’s Idlib province and warned that the Libyan situation was deteriorating. Putin, who was speaking at a news conference in Rome after holding talks with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, said Moscow wanted Libya’s warring sides to agree a ceasefire, to hold talks, and to enter into a proper political process to sort out the country’s problems [Address Libya, 05.07.2019];
- Maltese Foreign Minister Carmelo Abela has condemned the airstrike on Tajoura targeting a migrant detention center, and called for an investigation into the attack to hold the perpetrators accountable. “We are shocked to hear about the airstrikes on Tajoura, specifically on a migrant detention center, that left 40 fatalities in its wake and countless injured. Our heartfelt condolences go to the families and friends of the victims who have tragically lost their lives in this incident,” the minister said in a statement [Address Libya, 04.07.2019];
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Khalifa Haftar is no more than a pirate, following Haftar’s orders to target Turkish interests and nationals in eastern Libya. Turkish newspapers cited Erdogan Thursday as saying that there is a military agreement between Turkey and Libya’s Presidential Council’s government headed by Fayez al-Sirraj, saying Turkey, like the UN, recognizes Al-Sirraj’s government as the only legitimate body in the country [Libya Observer, 04.07.2019];
- the divided UN Security Council on Wednesday failed to condemn an attack on a detention center for migrants in Tajoura, east of Tripoli after the United States did not endorse a proposed statement, diplomats said. During a two-hour closed-door meeting, Britain circulated a statement that would have condemned the air strike that killed scores of migrants, called for a ceasefire, and a return to political talks [Address Libya, 04.07.2019];
- “the United States strongly condemns the abhorrent attack on a migrant detention facility in Tajoura, Libya, which reportedly killed 44 and injured more than 100 innocent civilians,” U.S State Department said in a statement [Address Libya, 04.07.2019];
- on Tuesday, an airstrike against a detention facility for illegal migrants in a suburb of the Libyan capital killed 40 and wounded 80. The European Union has called for a UN investigation into a Tuesday airstrike on a migrant detention centre in the Libyan capital Tripoli, calling the incident “horrific”, according to AFP [Marsad, 03.07.2019];
- British Ambassador to Libya Martin Reynolds called for immediately closing migrant detention centers near front lines in Tripoli and evacuating all civilians, including migrants, to safety. “Detention centers near front line should be closed immediately and all civilians, including migrants, evacuated to safety,” Reynolds tweeted on Tuesday [Address Libya, 03.07.2019];
- France has denied having any troops in Gharian during the control of Haftar’s forces of the city. In a tweet, Monday, the French Embassy in Libya said that rumours circulated on social media regarding the presence of French military personnel in the city of Gharian were baseless. The so-called security and protection commander of Dignity Operation room had appeared in a video on Facebook confessing the presence of French soldiers in in Gharian to provide logistic support to Haftar’s forces [Libya Observer, 02.07.2019].
