In Abugrein, an extremist died of his wounds following an airstrike by the Libyan National Army (LNA) which targeted a gathering of militants affiliated with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) on August 3.
Burkan al-Ghadab operation under the command of the Government of National Accord (GNA) has confirmed on Facebook that its defense forces have shot down Wing Loong drone – made in China and bought by the UAE – that is used by Khalifa Haftar’s forces in their attacks on Tripoli and other areas.
In Tripoli, more than 25 bodies is the primary death toll on August 1 for the militias allied with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), said the Military Information Division of the Libyan National Army (LNA).
On the international level, Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, discussed the situation in Libya with French President Emmanuel Macron during a phone call on August 4. According to Egyptian media, El-Sisi affirmed his country’s support for Libya’s unity and stability as well as his country’s support for the Libyan National Army (LNA) and its efforts to combat terrorism.
ABUGREIN
- an extremist died of his wounds following an airstrike by the Libyan National Army (LNA) which targeted a gathering of militants affiliated with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) on August 3 in Abugrein village, 118 km south of Misrata. 39-year-old Ali Abdulhafeez al-Zindali, nicknamed ‘Zaza’, was mourned by his nephew, Abdullah, who posted pictures of the funeral on Facebook. Abdullah Al-Zindali said on Facebook that his uncle was buried in Misrata on August 3 before the Maghrib prayer. In the last few days, Abdullah al-Zindali had posted pictures of his uncle alongside GNA militants whom were gathered in Al-Saddadah area ahead of their attempt to attack Jufra Air Base. ‘Zaza’ was one of the high-profile extremists wanted by LNA since 2016. Unconfirmed reports indicate that he was also wanted by GNA’s Special Force Rada before GNA joined-forces with outlaw militias in April to fight against LNA [Address Libya, 04.08.2019];
- Burkan al-Ghadab operation under the command of the Government of National Accord (GNA) has confirmed on Facebook that its defense forces have shot down Wing Loong drone – made in China and bought by the UAE – that is used by Khalifa Haftar’s forces in their attacks on Tripoli and other areas. The operation said on August 3 that the drone, provided by the UAE to Haftar’s forces, was trying to strike Misrata city before it had been shot down and destroyed in Abugrein area near Misrata [Libyan Express, 03.08.2019].
MURZUCH
- armed fighting in Murzuch, in southern Libya erupted on August 3 and continued through to August 4, leaving behind four people killed and four others wounded as well as three missing people, a source from the town said. The source added that the clashes started after armed men from Tubu tribe had stormed into Megaryef neighborhood with armored vehicles and then opened heavy artillery fire, causing material damage to the neighborhood. In the meantime, Khalifa Haftar’s Air Force jets targeted Murzuch on August 4 evening. No confirmed numbers of casualties have been reported yet [Libya Observer, 04.08.2019].
TRIPOLI
- more than 25 bodies is the primary death toll on August 1 for the militias allied with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), said the Military Information Division of the Libyan National Army (LNA). A state of confusion witnessed in the ranks of the militias after their exhaustion for months and their great loss of equipment and lives, it said. There are major conflicts and disagreements among the leaders of the militias and tension and distress in Misrata due to the large number of dead and losses, the Military Division added [Address Libya, 02.08.2019];
- the Libyan National Army announced that its air force targeted a Turkish drone at the Mitiga Airport in Tripoli, after it participated in supporting extremist groups allied with the government of Fayez al-Sirraj in the battles against the Libyan National Army. Sources close to LNA published satellite images from inside the Mitiga Airport, confirming the use of the civil airport for military purposes by Al-Sirraj forces. The Turkish drone is seen clearly in the images before and after being targeted by the Libyan National Army Air Force [Address Libya, 01.08.2019];
- one person was killed in an indiscriminate shelling on Souq Joma’a neighbourhood of Tripoli on July 29 night. Grad rockets fell on Hajarsa area of the neighbourhood causing damage to people’s houses. Grad rockets also hit Mitiga Airport causing panic among the pilgrims waiting for their flight to Mecca. Eastward, Grad rockets also hit Abi Lasher School in Tajoura neighbourhood near Mitiga Airport. No group has claimed responsibility for the grad rocket attacks, but local residents pointed the finger at groups of Khalifa Haftar [Libya Observer, 30.07.2019].
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, discussed the situation in Libya with French President Emmanuel Macron during a phone call on August 4. According to Egyptian media, El-Sisi affirmed his country’s support for Libya’s unity and stability as well as his country’s support for the Libyan National Army (LNA) and its efforts to combat terrorism. The Egyptian President reiterated that his country’s support for LNA stems from the fact that terrorist groups in Libya constitute a threat to the security of the wider region and the Mediterranean. He also reiterated Egypt’s rejection for any foreign interference in Libya’s internal affairs. For his part, Macron stressed upon importance of getting out of the current situation in Libya and resolving the country’s crisis for the sake of the region’s security. The two leaders agreed to intensify efforts to bring stability to Libya and enabling it to restore its regional and international role [Address Libya, 04.08.2019];
- the European Union called on the UN member states to respect their commitments to contribute to peace and stability in Libya. The statement called on all states to comply with the arms embargo imposed on Libya and warned against fueling and sustaining the conflict in Libya and the whole region. It also stressed the need to protect Libya’s oil resources and infrastructure, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions [Libya Observer, 03.08.2019];
- the United States has blocked a draft U.N. Security Council press statement on Libya put forward by Britain on July 31, two days after the briefing of U.N. envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame. A diplomatic source told Libyan news website Al-Marsad that the draft statement had been distributed to the offices of the missions of Member States to put it within the so-called silent procedure, which extends to the twenty-fourth of this month. The source said the draft statement would have been officially released had no member state objected to it [Address Libya, 01.08.2019];
- EU said the current migration management system used by Libya must end. The bloc stressed that it remains committed to fighting human trafficking. “Libya’s current system of managing irregular migration and arbitrarily detaining refugees and migrants has to end and needs to be brought into full compliance with international standards,” EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Commissioners Johannes Hahn and Dimitris Avramopoulos said in a statement on a shipwreck off Libya last week [Address Libya, 30.07.2019];
- Fayez al-Sirraj, head of the Tripoli-based Presidential Council, received Turkish Ambassador to Libya, Serhat Aksen, in his office in Tripoli. Ambassador Serhat renewed Turkey’s “unconditional support” for the Al-Sirraj government and expressed his country’s condemnation of what he described as “attacks on civilian installations.” The Al-SIrraj government had earlier expressed its thanks and appreciation for the Turkish support during its battle in Tripoli against the Libyan national army [Address Libya, 30.07.2019];
- the Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Ghassan Salame has called for a ceasefire truce in Tripoli during the upcoming Eid Al-Adha (Around “August 10-14”). In his briefing at the UN Security Council on July 29, Salame said the truce should be accompanied by an exchange of prisoners and remains as well as the release of detainees. The UN envoy to Libya called for a high-level meeting with stakeholders in Libya taking part in it to urge for a ceasefire and an end to the arms flow to the country, saying there should be no delay for the ceasefire so “we can save Libya from becoming a haven for terrorist groups.” [Libya Observer, 29.07.2019].
