In Derna, Turkish media confirmed on December 23 the release of the ship detained by Haftar’s gunmen off the coast of Derna and its Turkish crew.
In Tajoura, the spokesman for the Health Ministry, Fawzi Awnis, has confirmed that four people have been killed and ten others injured due airstrikes by warplanes backing up Khalifa Haftar’s forces.
In Tripoli, fighting intensified in southern Tripoli on December 27, mainly in the Yarmouk and Salah al-Din frontlines, in addition to Khallatat and the Airport Road.
On the international level, the Turkish Presidency has confirmed that the Libyan government had requested military support from Turkey, noting that it will respect the security cooperation agreement signed between the two sides.
DERNA
- Turkish media confirmed on December 23 the release of the ship detained by Haftar’s gunmen off the coast of Derna and its Turkish crew. Forces of Haftar intercepted the Grenada-flagged ship with its Turkish crew and dragged it to Ras al-Hilal Port in Derna east of Libya. The ship and its crew were later released after discovering that it was transporting a shipment of scrap in the interest of the so-called the “Military Investment Authority” managed by Madani al-Fakhiri and supervised by Haftar’s sons [Libya Observer, 24.12.2019].
MISRATA – TRIPOLI
- thousands of people gathered in the main squares of Tripoli and Misrata on December 28 to protest against the continued offensive on Tripoli that left hundreds of thousands of people displaced and hundreds dead. The protesters called on the external parties supporting warlord Haftar to cease their aggression and withdraw foreign mercenaries from the Russians, the Janjaweed and others who are leading the fighting axes in southern Tripoli. They demanded an end to the war and to the indiscriminate shelling of civilians and their homes [Libya Observer, 28.12.2019].
TAJOURA
- the spokesman for the Health Ministry, Fawzi Awnis, has confirmed that four people have been killed and ten others injured due airstrikes by warplanes backing up Khalifa Haftar’s forces on Tajoura in eastern Tripoli. The media office of Volcano of Rage Operation said on December 24 on Facebook that warplanes of Haftar’s forces air-attacked a house in Khalit Fares, Baer al-Usta Milad and Abaeish areas in Tajoura, killing four civilians and injuring three others [Libya Observer, 24.12.2019].
TRIPOLI
- the Libyan Army forces under the command of the Presidential Council’s government carried out an all-out offensive on Khalifa Haftar’s forces on Al-Ramla frontline in the vicinity of Tripoli International Airport, the media office of Volcano of Rage Operation said, adding that Haftar’s forces were accompanied by foreign mercenaries on the frontlines [Libya Observer, 28.12.2019];
- fighting intensified in southern Tripoli on December 27, mainly in the Yarmouk and Salah al-Din frontlines, in addition to Khallatat and the Airport Road. A source from the Special Deterrence Force (SDF) confirmed that the Libyan Army forces managed to enhance their positions in Salah al-Din after they launched an attack on the positions of Haftar’s forces [Libya Observer, 28.12.2019].
ZAWIA
- Khalifa Haftar’s warplanes have carried out airstrikes on the Institute of Applied Engineering in Zawia city, causing only material damage as students and teachers are on weekend holiday, the media office of Volcano of Rage Operation said on December 28. This airstrike is the fifth by Haftar’s warplanes on Zawia city – different targets and locations – in three days [Libya Observer, 28.12.2019];
- Zawia Educational Hospital said on December 26 that it had received two bodies of civilians killed in airstrikes by Khalifa Haftar’s warplanes on Zawia, adding that eight injured persons had also arrived at the hospital and that five of them were admitted to the intensive care unit [Libya Observer, 26.12.2019].
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte confirmed on December 28, that the talks he held with Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian Vladimir Putin focused on urging everyone to find a political solution to the Libyan crisis [Libya Observer, 29.12.2019];
- the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) in Libya and UNSMIL head, Ghassan Salame, on December 28 strongly condemned repeated airstrikes targeting civilian installations in western Libya, including Zawia, Tajoura and Abu Salim [Libya Herald, 29.12.2019];
- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called on December 28 for resolving the Libyan crisis according to a comprehensive way to end terrorism there. “The Libyan crisis should be solved in a comprehensive and integrated manner by tackling all aspects of the crisis, not parts of it,” El-Sisi said, adding that the solution must protect Libyan resources and national institutions and thwart illegal foreign intervention [Address Libya, 29.12.2019];
- the House Presidents of Cyprus and Libya on December 28 said Turkey’s moves further escalated tensions and contribute to the destabilization of the wider Mediterranean area. Demetris Syllouris received his Libyan counterpart Aguila Saleh in his office on December 28 morning [Address Libya, 28.12.2019];
- the Turkish Presidency has confirmed that the Libyan government had requested military support from Turkey, noting that it will respect the security cooperation agreement signed between the two sides. “The government of Libya has asked for military support from Turkey. We, of course, as President Erdogan emphasized, will respect the agreement between us. We are fully committed to protecting our common interests and establishing stability in the Mediterranean region,” the head of the Communication Department of the Turkish Presidency, Fakhruddin Alton tweeted out on his account on December 28. He emphasized that external forces must stop supporting illegal groups against the Libyan government, as he put it [Libya Observer, 28.12.2019];
- the Supreme Security Council of Algeria has decided to reactivate Algeria’s role in international files, most notably Libya. A statement by the Algerian Presidency on December 26 indicated that the Supreme Security Council discussed at a meeting led by the new head of state, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the situation in the region, especially on the border with Libya and Mali, according to the Algerian news agency [Libya Observer, 28.12.2019];
- President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, agreed on a phone call on December 27 to concert joint efforts aimed at putting an end to illegitimate foreign interventions in Libya, producing a settlement, and combating militias and terror organizations [Address Libya, 27.12.2019];
- Secretary General of the Arab League (AL) Ahmed Aboul Gheit has warned against the negative impacts and risks of foreign intervention in Libya. In a statement released by the AL late on December 26, Aboul Gheit voiced his concern over the serious escalation in the conflict-stricken country, reiterating his call for “immediate de-escalation.” [Address Libya, 27.12.2019];
- the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on December 26 that his country will send troops to Libya on January 07-08 2020, adding that the Turkish Parliament will have to approve a motion for the deployment after its recess ends in a few days [Libya Observer, 26.12.2019];
- the Tunisian Presidency issued a strong response today against statements made by the Interior Minister of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), Fathi Bashagha, calling it “false allegations”. In the aftermath of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Tunisia on December 25, Bashagha told reporters earlier today that a new “alliance” between Tunisia and Turkey has been forged to confront “mercenaries affiliated with Khalifa Haftar” [Address Libya, 26.12.2019];
- the British Embassy in Libya said on December 24 that the United Kingdom continues to support stability and peace in Libya. The Embassy congratulated the Libyan people on the occasion of the 68th anniversary of Libya’s independence, affirming its country’s commitment to support long-term stability and peace in Libya and supporting the work of UNSMIL (UN Support Mission in Libya) to secure a ceasefire and a return to political process and a peaceful dialogue across country, as stated [Address Libya, 25.12.2019];
- the U.S. affirmed on December 24 its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Libya. On its Twitter account, the U.S. Embassy said on the occasion of Libya’s Independence Day “It is time for the courageous Libyan leadership to protect independence rather than drown in foreign interference”. It urged all parties of the Libyan crisis to cease escalation and take serious steps towards resolving the conflict [Libya Observer, 25.12.2019];
- the Israeli Foreign Minister, Yisrael Katz has criticized the Libyan-Turkish deal on maritime delimitation between the two countries. However, Katz told Reuters, on December 23, their opposition to the agreement will not lead to a conflict with Turkey [Libya Observer, 25.12.2019];
- the Head of the Russian contact group on Libya’s conflict settlement, Lev Dengov, told Sputnik that Khalifa Haftar’s statements about advancing on the frontlines of Tripoli war aren’t backed by tangible results or serious progress [Libya Observer, 25.12.2019];
- the European Union has repeated its appeal to all Libyan parties to cease all military action and resume political dialogue in light of the continuing escalation in Libya, particularly around Tripoli. In a statement on December 23, the EU said “there is no military solution to the crisis in Libya. The only way to resolve it must be political, negotiated on the basis of the proposals recently advanced by the United Nations” [Libya Observer, 23.12.2019].
