In Sirte, the Libyan National Army (LNA) air forces re-launched new strikes on the positions of armed groups allied with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord.
In Tripoli, the Libyan National Army (LNA) Forces on November 16 destroyed the defensive lines of the armed groups allied with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) at advanced points in the battle axis of Alsabia.
Eye witnesses said they heard very strong artillery sounds on November 12 around Tripoli International Airport, in a sign of continued fighting between the Libyan National Army (LNA) forces and armed groups loyal to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).
On the international level, a US court has issued an arrest warrant of Khalifa Haftar as he is a dual Libyan and American citizen based on a lawsuit filed by Libyans accusing him of killing and indiscriminate shelling on civilians in Tripoli.
SIRTE
- the Libyan National Army (LNA) air forces re-launched new strikes on the positions of armed groups allied with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord in Sirte. The media center of Al-Karama Operations Room of LNA said that the air force re-targeted sites for vehicles and ammunition depots at the Qaradabiya airbase and Saadi camp in Sirte with precise strikes. The center confirmed that the strikes were carried out last night, November 12, and achieved direct hits, pointing to the continued sounds of explosions for a period of time. On the other hand, witnesses confirmed hearing the sound of at least three violent explosions that rocked sites inside the base of Qaradabiya south of Sirte. Witnesses pointed out that the loud explosions coincided with sounds of warplanes flying in the air of Sirte [Address Libya, 13.12.2019].
TRIPOLI
- the Libyan National Army (LNA) Forces on November 16 destroyed the defensive lines of the armed groups allied with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) at advanced points in the battle axis of Alsabia in Tripoli. After violent clashes that led to the retreat of the armed groups, LNA units captured nine mercenaries of African nationalities, said the Military Information Division of LNA. The mercenaries will be handed over to the military police until they are transferred to Benghazi, according to the Division [Address Libya, 16.11.2019];
- radical Islamist leader Ismail al-Sallabi was injured during battles to control the strategic Yarmouk camp in Tripoli, informed sources told The Libyan Address Journal. An informed source, who asked not to be named, said that Al-Sallabi, who is the founder of the radical Mujahideen Shura Council of Benghazi, was fighting within one of the extremist groups allied with the government of Fayez al-Sarraj in Tripoli. “He was injured in November 13 fighting, which ended with the LNA taking control of Yarmouk camp south of Tripoli,” the source added. “After his injury, Al-Sallabi was taken to a private clinic in the city of Misrata for treatment. His condition is now stable and he is expected to return to fighting next week,” the source stated [Address Libya, 14.11.2019];
- spokesman for the Emergency and Ambulance Service, Osama Ali, has confirmed that four members of Moftah el-Seid family have been injured after a shell hit their home in Ain Zara district, south Tripoli. Three children and their mother were injured. The children suffered moderate to light injuries, while the mother is in a critical condition,” Osama Ali disclosed. The Media Centre of the Volcano of Rage Operation said on November 13 that random shelling fired by Haftar’s forces struck a residential area in Ain Zara district, leaving several civilians wounded [Libya Observer, 13.11.2019];
- eye witnesses said they heard very strong artillery sounds on November 12 around Tripoli International Airport, in a sign of continued fighting between the Libyan National Army (LNA) forces and armed groups loyal to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA). The Information Officer of the 73rd Infantry Brigade of LNA confirmed on November 11 that LNA artillery is dealing accurately with a number of armed groups’ concentrations in various fighting axes in the capital Tripoli. Al-Mundhir al-Kartoush pointed out that the LNA air force continues targeting ammunition depots and areas used to concentrate armed groups [Address Libya, 12.11.2019].
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- a US court has issued an arrest warrant of Khalifa Haftar as he is a dual Libyan and American citizen based on a lawsuit filed by Libyans accusing him of killing and indiscriminate shelling on civilians in Tripoli. The lawsuit says Haftar killed family members of the citizens who filed the case in the Virginia court. They said the forces who carried out the attacks acted on Haftar’s orders, killing over 1000 people [Libya Observer, 17.11.2019];
- US Defence Secretary, Mark Esper has said that the airstrikes carried out by AFRICOM against ISIS in Libya last September have killed one-third of ISIS fighters. In a press statement on November 13, in Seoul, Esper said that his country attaches importance to the fight against terrorism in Libya, confirming that the US will continue its operations to curb the expansion of the organization in the region, according to the American Times newspaper [Libya Observer, 16.11.2019];
- the United States called on Haftar to stop his war against Tripoli, with a view to facilitating cooperation between the US and Libya to prevent undue foreign interference and enhance the legitimate authority of the state [Libya Observer, 16.11.2019];
- the UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame has described the Security Council as “sterile” as it couldn’t find solutions to many crises, including the Libyan one after 14 formal meetings. Salame also called on Security Council member states to agree on their vision for the solution in Libya without excluding the Libyans themselves [Libya Observer, 13.11.2019];
- Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte has said that Italy and Germany are working together to ensure a positive outcome for the Berlin conference on Libya, scheduled to be held before the end of this year. Conte, during a joint press conference with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, in Rome, emphasized that they were fully convinced of the coherent and sincere commitment of the international community to work towards a positive outcome in the Berlin Conference, according to the Italian news agency “Nova” [Libya Observer, 13.11.2019];
- spokeswoman for the European Commission, Mina Andreeva, has refused considering Libya as a “safe harbour” to land migrants rescued from the Mediterranean. Andreeva said in response to a question about an alleged secret agreement between the Maltese authorities and the Government of National Accord (GNA), which stipulates that the Libyan Coast Guard is to intercept migrant boats bound for Malta and return them to Libya [Libya Observer, 12.11.2019];
- Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, have called for an end to the fighting in Libya as soon as possible, the Kremlin said on November 11 [Libya Observer, 12.11.2019];
- Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne said on November 12 that his country is ready to join other European countries in helping Libya solve its internal problems. Fearne made the remarks when asked about reports from last November 10 saying that Malta’s armed forces had negotiated an agreement that would see it coordinating with the Tripoli-based coast guard to intercept migrants heading towards Maltese territorial waters [Address Libya, 12.11.2019].
