In Jufra, on July 28, a Libyan Army airstrikes on Jufra airbase destroyed two Ukrainian cargo planes (Il-76) used by Khalifa Haftar’s forces in their Tripoli offensive. Air defense units of the Libyan National Army (LNA) intercepted and shot down a Turkish drone in Jufra on July 25.
In Tripoli, five medics were killed and eight others wounded in an airstrike by a warplane belonging to the LNA on a field hospital in the Airport Road on July 27. Khalifa Haftar’s forces have announced “Zero Hour” to launch an all-out offensive on Tripoli and try once again to enter the capital, but the forces have been met with fierce defense by the Libyan Army forces under the command of Presidential Council’s government.
On the international level, the Head of the Libyan Presidential Council Fayez al-Sirraj met on July 27 in Tunisia with the President of France Emmanuel Macron and discussed with him the ramification of the Tripoli offensive that was launched by Khalifa Haftar on April 04.
JUFRA
- Russian news agency Sputnik said on July 28 that Libyan Army airstrikes on Jufra airbase destroyed two Ukrainian cargo planes (Il-76) used by Khalifa Haftar’s forces in their Tripoli offensive. The airstrikes on the airbase also destroyed a number of planes and military equipment, Sputnik said. Sputnik reported Avia.pro website – specialized in aviation – said the (Il-76) planes were for Alfa Air firm, which is based in Ukraine’s capital Kiev. The firm has five Il76 cargo planes that were produced between 1990 and 1992. Libya’s Air Force under the command of Presidential Council’s government hit on July 26 Jufra airbase and destroyed an ammunition depot, military cargo plane and drones for Haftar’s forces. The General Staff of the Libyan Army said Al-Jufra airbase has become a hub to gather mercenaries fighting for Haftar’s forces in their war on Tripoli [Libya Observer, 28.07.2019];
- air defense units of the Libyan National Army (LNA) intercepted and shot down a Turkish drone in Jufra on July 25. According to a statement by LNA spokesman General Brigadier Ahmed al-Mismari, the army’s air defense units intercepted the drone and tracked it down until it reached Jufra’s Air Base where the drone was shot down. LNA said on July 24 that its forces continue to advance in Tripoli, despite attempts by Turkish drone to obstruct the army’s progress [Address Libya, 25.07.2019].
MISRATA
- Khalifa Haftar’s UAE-backed air force conducted drone strikes on Misrata Airforce Academy early on July 27, the first airstrikes on the city since the start of Tripoli offensive on April 04. The airstrikes came in response to the drone strikes of Libyan Air Force on Jufra Airbase. The attackers claimed they destroyed Turkish drones and an air defence system, but sources from Misrata Airforce Academy said the airstrikes have caused no damage [Libya Observer, 27.07.2019];
- a source from the Libyan National Army told The Libyan Address Journal that the LNA air force carried out more than the raids on positions of extremist militias in the city of Misrata, which is allied with the government of Fayez al-Sirraj, on July 27 morning. The source confirmed that the aerial bombardment targeted a Turkish Operation Room Misrata Airbase, where the Turkish officers were operating drones. LNA warplanes also bombed positions of extremist battalions west of the city of Sirte at dawn on July 25 [Address Libya, 27.07.2019];
- the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) denied on July 24 the arrival of any of its troops to the western Libyan city of Misrata, thus refuting a statement made a spokesman for forces allied with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA). AFRICOM spokesperson Becky Farmer told London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat that “the Africa Command did not send any military force to the Libyan city of Misrata.” Mohammed Al-Ghassari, spokesman for loyalist force of GNA called Al-Bunyan al-Marsoos, told a local news website that an AFRICOM military force has arrived at Misrata Air Academy “as part of the cooperation framework to combat terrorism.” [Address Libya, 25.07.2019].
TRIPOLI
- five medics were killed and eight others wounded in an airstrike by a warplane belonging to the LNA on a field hospital in the Airport Road in Tripoli on July 27. The Head of Field Medicine and Support Center condemned the repeated airstrikes on the field hospitals, demanding the international community to stop attacks on medical institutions and medical staff. The Ministry of Health also condemned the airstrike saying in a statement that such attacks on medical institutions violate all local and international laws and conventions [Libya Observer, 27.07.2019];
- after fierce clashes in and around Naqliya Camp on the Airport Road in southern Tripoli between Libyan Army forces under the command of the Libyan Presidential Council and forces under the command of Khalifa Haftar, the Libyan Army announced on July 27 evening that the camp was under its full control and Haftar’s forces had fled the area [Libya Observer, 27.07.2019];
- units of the Libyan National Army arrested the leader of Al-Zawiya militias during an operation carried out on the airport road south of Tripoli. The LNA 127th battalion said in an official statement that it carried out an operation next to Salah al-Din mosque on the airport road against concentrations of the government of Fayez al-Sirraj, and took full control of the site. “We captured the commander of Al-Zawiya militias Mesbah al-Hengari.” The battalion indicated that it had killed one militia member and captured the rest, and had seized two military vehicles, one armored, as well as several types of weapons and ammunition [Address Libya, 25.07.2019];
- the joint operations room of Misrata has arrested three people linked to Al-Qaeda – including an Algerian national – and seized their weapons. The joint operations room said the Algerian national has been under surveillance for a period of time in Tripoli as he is the main wanted terrorist, adding that the operation of storming his house was done after obtaining a permission for it from the Public Prosecutor’s Office. “The arrested persons are linked to several terrorist attacks in Tripoli. We seized weapons, ammo, grenades and documents.” The room explained [Libya Observer, 24.07.2019];
- Khalifa Haftar’s forces have announced “Zero Hour” to launch an all-out offensive on Tripoli and try once again to enter the capital, but the forces have been met with fierce defense by the Libyan Army forces under the command of Presidential Council’s government. Frontlines saw the “Zero Hour” clashes start at 9.00am in the morning on July 22 with Haftar’s forces attacking – with air cover – Libyan Army positions on four frontlines, concentrating on Khallit al-Furjan since it’s the closest to Tripoli’s city center [Libya Observer, 22.07.2019].
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- the United Kingdom has strongly condemned the airstrike on a field hospital in the Airport Road of Tripoli on July 27. “We strongly condemn reported targeting of civilians in the field hospital South of Tripoli. Civilians including aid and health workers and civilian infrastructure as hospitals and schools are not a target.” The British Embassy in Libya tweeted on July 28. The embassy called for an immediate de-escalation in Tripoli to prevent further losses of lives [Libya Observer, 28.07.2019];
- the European Union has deplored the deadly shipwreck off the coast of Libya in which up to 150 migrants are feared to have drowned. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of a shipwreck off the coast of Al Khoms where over 100 persons may have lost their lives,” reads a joint statement by the EU’s High Representative Federica Mogherini and Commissioners Johannes Hahn and Dimitris Avramopoulos. “Our EU Delegation is in contact with the Libyan authorities, UN agencies and the NGOs to make sure that those rescued and disembarked receive protection and direct emergency assistance.” The EU reiterated its call for putting an end to arbitrary detention of migrants in Libya, where many of whom are facing systematic abuse [Address Libya, 28.07.2019];
- the Head of the Libyan Presidential Council Fayez al-Sirraj met on July 27 in Tunisia with the President of France Emmanuel Macron and discussed with him the ramification of the Tripoli offensive that was launched by Khalifa Haftar on April 04. The meeting came on the sidelines of Al-Sirraj and Macron’s attendance of the funeral of the Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, who passed away on July 25. Macron reiterated his rejection to the attack on Tripoli and the need for a ceasefire as well as a return to the UN-led political process [Libya Observer, 27.07.2019].
