The Libyan Military Information Division stated that the coasts opposite the cities of Sirte, Ras Lanuf, and Brega have witnessed a proliferation of maritime patrols of the Libyan National Army.
The Joint Force, affiliated with the Libyan Army, has given on July 15 a 48-hour warning to all armed groups in the Salah al-Din Road, Sidra Road and Al-Shouk Road areas, south of Tripoli, to evacuate residential homes, rest houses and various civilian buildings such as hospitals, ministries, colleges and companies.
On the international level, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met on July 19 with the country’s National Defense Council to discuss the overall political, security and military situations within the framework of developments of the various current challenges on the regional and international arenas.
AL-WATIYAH – MISRATA
- ItalMilRadar, a website specializes in monitoring aircraft movements over Italy and the Mediterranean, has intercepted new Turkish air activity over Libya. According the website, on July 19 a Turkish cargo plane (C-130 E) of the Turkish Air Force took off from Konya airbase in Turkey and landed in Al-Watiyah airbase in southern Tripoli. This is the third time in three days in a row that this Turkish plane heads for Al-Watiyah;
- a C-130E 71-01468 Filo 222 Boeing cargo plane of the Turkish Air Force landed in early July 16 morning in Al-Watiyah air base after taking off from Konya base in Turkey, according to the air traffic monitoring sites. In a similar context, an Airbus A400-180 17-0080 Filo 221 cargo plane of the Turkish Air Force from landed in Misrata air base on July 15 coming from Turkey’s Kayseri Erkilet Airport. The two planes left for their respective bases this morning on July 16 around 6:00 am.
JUFRA- SIRTE
- the Libyan Military Information Division stated that the coasts opposite the cities of Sirte, Ras Lanuf, and Brega have witnessed a proliferation of maritime patrols of the Libyan National Army. The Division account on Twitter has published on July 19 photos of the extensive reconnaissance patrols of the navy on the coasts of Sirte, Ras Lanuf, and Brega;
- Sirte-Jufra Protection Operations Room of the Government of National Accord (GNA) said military reinforcements arrived on July 18 from different cities to Sirte to pave the way for starting military operations to retake control of the city. The room said in a statement that military vehicles and heavy equipment as well as weapons arrived in positions in western Sirte to support Doroob al-Nasser (Victory Paths) that GNA launched to seize Sirte and Jufra from Khalifa Haftar’s forces;
- military informed source said the Libyan National Army (LNA) has taken proactive steps in securing the air safety zone of Sirte-Jufra. The source, who preferred not to be named, added that great security steps had been taken on the eastern border areas with Egypt with the advanced air defense systems, S300.
TOBRUK
- the Libyan Army monitored the arrival of military supplies coming from Egypt to the city of Tobruk on July 15. According to the media centre of the Libyan Army’s “Volcano of Anger” operation, the delivery came a day after renegade General Khalifa Haftar announced that a “major battle” was taking place in the surroundings of Sirte and Jufra.
TRIPOLI
- three young children, amongst them two siblings, on July 16 were wounded in a landmine explosion in the Al-Khalla region, planted by Russian Wagner mercenaries, along with other militias loyal to warlord Haftar, as they fled areas south of Tripoli;
- the Joint Force, affiliated with the Libyan Army, has given on July 15 a 48-hour warning to all armed groups in the Salah al-Din Road, Sidra Road and Al-Shouk Road areas, south of Tripoli, to evacuate residential homes, rest houses and various civilian buildings such as hospitals, ministries, colleges and companies.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met on July 19 with the country’s National Defense Council to discuss the overall political, security and military situations within the framework of developments of the various current challenges on the regional and international arenas;
- the European Union has reiterated the need for the conflicting parties in Libya to return to the 5 + 5 Committee negotiation table, to achieve a permanent ceasefire agreement and to initiate a political process to resolve the crisis under the umbrella of the United Nations;
- the leaders of France, Italy and Germany urged “all foreign actors” to stop interfering in Libya and to respect the UN arms embargo on the country. The trio hinted at sanctions as a way to enforce their position;
- the Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on July 17 that their military training and consulting teams in Libya “are still working in the country to ensure peace and stability;
- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi stressed to the leaders and notables of the Libyan tribes that the primary goal of the Egyptian efforts at all levels towards Libya is “to enable the free will of the Libyan people for a better future for their country and for future generations.”;
- the Russian military is not involved in any military activities in Libya and there is no data on any organized groups of Russian nationals there, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on July 16;
- the German Minister of Defense, Annegret Karrenbauer, said that the European Union’s position on Libya is quite weak and that it does not possess the ability to monitor the arms embargo on Libya efficiently;
- on July 15 the European Union (EU) has renewed its call to all players involved in the Libyan conflict and those supporting them, to move towards a political solution under the umbrella of the Berlin Conference;
- the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a statement on July 15 that it “has clear evidence that Russian employed, state-sponsored Wagner Group laid landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in and around Tripoli”;
- Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit on July 15 underlined the importance of the Cairo Declaration initiative on Libya that has been announced recently by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi;
- the United Arab Emirates has called for the resumption of oil production in Libya and not using Libyan oil revenues to fuel the conflict. “The UAE, alongside its partners, wants to see a return to oil production in Libya as soon as possible, with safeguards in place to prevent the proceeds fueling further conflict,” UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash said via Twitter on July 14. “We continue to work for an immediate ceasefire and return to a political process,” Gargash added;
- French President Emmanuel Macron on July 13 called for an immediate resumption of dialogue in Libya and the start of the political process, stressing that there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis;
- the British Embassy in Libya condemned, on July 13, the closure of Libyan oil exports, announced by Khalifa Haftar’s militias, calling for “an end to all foreign interference.”;
- Turkish Foreign Minister has stressed that military operation will no doubt take place if Haftar’s forces do not withdraw from Sirte and Jufra, saying that the Government of National Accord (GNA) is determined to solve this matter;
- the European Union High Representative for Security and Foreign Policy, Joseph Borrell, called on Turkey to stop its repeated violations of the UN resolution banning the supply of arms to Libya.
