In Tripoli, the Libyan National Army (LNA) Air Force continues to bomb the positions of the armed groups allied with the Tripoli-based Government of Fayez al-Sarraj. LNA Air Force bombed on January 5 Mitiga air base in Tripoli, said Battalion 134 of LNA, which is securing Al-Watia air base south east Tripoli.
On the international level, Saudi Arabia condemns “the recent Turkish escalation in Libya” and the Turkish parliament’s approval of a troop deployment to Libya, and considers it a violation of U.N. Security Council decisions.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on January 5 said that Turkish forces had begun deploying to Libya after parliament approved the move last week.
TRIPOLI
- the Libyan National Army (LNA) Air Force continues to bomb the positions of the armed groups allied with the Tripoli-based Government of Fayez al-Sarraj. LNA Air Force bombed on January 5 Mitiga air base in Tripoli, said Battalion 134 of LNA, which is securing Al-Watia air base south east Tripoli. The Battalion confirmed that the strike was accurate and hit the target, where GNA armed groups suffered heavy casualties and equipment losses [Address Libya, 05.01.2020];
- 28 cadets were killed and 23 others wounded in an airstrike by warlord Khalifa Haftar’s UAE and Egypt-backed air force militia on Tripoli Military College on January 4 night. The Government of National Accord condemned the airstrike and declared three days of mourning in the country [Libya Observer, 05.01.2020];
- a missile attack by Haftar’s militias hit the Diabetes and Endocrinology Center in Tripoli on January 3 night. A hospital official confirmed that the bombs caused great damage to the intensive care unit (ICU) and disabled essential services for thousands of people, confirming that no human casualties were reported [Libya Observer, 05.01.2020];
- Tripoli’s Ministry of Transport has confirmed that Mitiga airport has reopened after it was hit by numerous missiles in the early hours of Friday January 3 morning. The attacks caused some damage to the runway and infrastructure, but not enough to shut down the airport. The Ministry thanked staff at the airport for their efforts in clearing and repairing the runway in an effort for flights to resume today, January 3 [Libya Herald, 03.01.2020];
- three civilians, a woman and two men were injured in Al-Hadba neighborhood in indiscriminate shelling by Haftar’s gunmen. A 70-year-old woman and three others were injured by shrapnel that hit their house in Al-Hadba due to random shelling, the Media Office of the Volcano of Rage Operation stated. Dozens of indiscriminate shells fell during the past two days on Al-Hadba neighborhood and Crown Prince Street, as clashes continue to flare up in these neighborhoods [Libya Observer, 02.01.2020];
- the Libyan Army under the command of the Presidential Council’s government repelled two attacks for Khalifa Haftar’s forces on Airport Road and Salah Eddine frontlines in an attempt to enter Tripoli as indiscriminate shells fell on residential areas in the capital, killing one woman and injuring others. The spokesman for the Libyan Army Mohammed Gununu said their forces had destroyed a tank and a military vehicle for Haftar’s forces as the latter tried to advance on Salah Eddine frontline, saying all fighters in the tank and vehicle had been killed [Libya Observer, 02.01.2020];
- the media office of Volcano of Rage Operation of the Presidential Council’s government said three people had been killed in airstrikes by Khalifa Haftar’s warplanes on a workshop and a store in Al-Sawani in southern Tripoli. Eyewitnesses said on January 1 that besides the three deaths – Libyan nationals – five civilians were injured and then sent to hospital for media treatment [Libya Observer, 01.01.2020].
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- Saudi Arabia condemns “the recent Turkish escalation in Libya” and the Turkish parliament’s approval of a troop deployment to Libya, and considers it a violation of U.N. Security Council decisions, the foreign ministry said in a statement on the state news agency SPA. The statement added that “the kingdom affirms that this Turkish escalation poses a threat to the security and stability in Libya and a threat to Arab and regional security, as it is an interference in the internal affairs of an Arab country in flagrant violation of international principles and covenants.” [Address Libya, 05.01.2020];
- Turkey on January 5 “strongly condemned” an airstrike on a military school in the south of the Libyan capital of Tripoli by jets loyal to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar. At least 30 people were killed and 33 injured on January 4 in the strike on the dormitory of the military school, targeting mainly its students [Libyan Express, 05.01.2020];
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on January 5 said that Turkish forces had begun deploying to Libya after parliament approved the move last week. “Our soldiers’ duty there is coordination. They will develop the operation centre there. Our soldiers are gradually going right now,” he told CNN Turk broadcaster during an interview, according to AFP [Marsad, 05.01.2020];
- the Foreign Affairs Committee of Egypt’s House of Representatives stressed that the Turkish interference in the Libyan domestic affairs is a new sort of invasion and considered as a practice of hegemony on the Libyan territories. The committee’s remarks came on January 5 during an extraordinary meeting, headed by MP Karim Darwish, to study the unprecedented Turkish escalation, which undermines regional and international efforts aiming at reaching a political settlement for the years-running Libyan conflict [Address Libya, 05.01.2020];
- the United Nations Mission of support in Libya (UNSMIL) condemned in the strongest terms the bombing targeting the Al-Hadba military college South of the capital Tripoli, which resulted in dozens of casualties between dead and wounded. The internationally recognized government in Tripoli also condemned the attack and declared three days of official mourning [Libya Herald, 05.01.2020];
- the Turkish parliament approved a bill on January 2 that allows the Recep Erdogan government to send troops to Libya. The troops would aid the its ally, the internationally recognized Libyan government based in Tripoli fighting against the forces led by Khalifa Haftar. The decision comes after a request for help by the Fayez al-Sarraj government based in Tripoli [Libya Herald, 03.01.2020];
- Egypt strongly condemned on January 2 a vote by Turkey’s parliament vote to allow a troop deployment to Libya, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Egypt said any such deployment could “negatively affect the stability of the Mediterranean region” and called on the international community to urgently respond to the move [Libyan Express, 02.01.2020];
- the newly elected Algerian Prime Minister Sabri Boukadoum said his country is going to propose new initiatives in the coming days to resolve the crisis in Libya via peaceful solutions. On the sidelines of sending humanitarian aids convoy to Libya, the Algerian PM said his country doesn’t accept any foreign forces on the ground in Libya, according to the Algerian News Agency [Libya Observer, 02.01.2020];
- spokesman for the Algerian Foreign Ministry has said that the agreement signed between Libya and Turkey is a sovereign issue between the two countries and is not of Algeria’s concern. The Algerian official indicated in a statement on December 31, that what is happening in Libya is dangerous, stressing his government’s keenness to see a peaceful solution to the crisis [Libya Observer, 01.01.2020];
- the ambassador of the United States to Libya Richard Norland said his country is committed to stand by the Libyan people, in their quest for peace, stability and a return to normal life. These remarks came in a message he posted on the embassy’s Facebook page, extending sincere greetings to Libyans for the advent of the new year [Libya Observer, 01.01.2020];
- Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar has said that his country cannot remain on the sidelines about what is happening in Libya. Anadolu Agency quoted the minister as saying “We cannot remain indifferent to the harm done to our Libyan brothers”. Akar confirmed that preparations have begun for sending military forces to Libya. He pointed out that the Turkish military mission will be entrusted to the Turkish forces and the Ministry of Defence immediately upon the approval of the motion regarding the deployment of Turkish forces to Libya by the parliament [Libya Observer, 01.01.2020];
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his New Year’s address that with support to the legitimate Tripoli government, Turkey will ensure implementation of all elements of agreements with Libya. Erdogan explained on December 31 that the project to exclude Turkey from the Mediterranean had been foiled with the latest steps Ankara has taken, referring to signing two MoUs with Libya. Turkey’s presidency on December 30 submitted a motion to the Parliament Speaker’s Office on sending troops to Libya [Libya Observer, 31.12.2019];
- Egypt and other countries supporting Khalifa Haftar have failed to get the Arab League to issue a statement condemning Libya-Turkey MoUs or calling for Withdrawing legitimacy from the Libyan Presidential Council’s government. On December 31, the Arab League said political solution is the only way Libya can regain its stability and security, rejecting foreign intervention and urging all parties to persevere the country’s sovereignty. Chaired by Iraq, the Arab League held an emergency meeting for the permanent representatives and reiterated need for unity in Libya and said it is opposed to foreign intervention in all its forms [Libya Observer, 31.12.2019].
