In Gharian, the Khalifa Haftar Libyan National Army (LNA) and their allied forces suffered a major setback on June 26 when the Tripoli forces aligned to the internationally recognized Fayez al-Sirraj-led Presidency Council and Government of National Accord pushed them back to the north of Gharian. The situation is still fluid with conflicting reports.
In Tripoli, the Libyan National Army (LNA) forces have repulsed a major offensive by the militias allied with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) in Al-Yarmouk front line in Wadi al-Rabea area, Tripoli, said the Media Center of Al-Karama Operations Room of LNA on Wednesday.
On the international level, Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that his country will take all measures in respect to the threats made by the spokesman of Haftar’s forces to the Turkish citizens in Libya and to targeting Turkish ships and aircraft.
AJDABIYA
- Security Directorates in eastern Libya of the Interim Government ordered the shutdown of shops and restaurants that have Turkish names or have Turkish goods and foods, as per the orders of the general command of Khalifa Haftar’s forces. Abiding by the orders, Ajdabiya security directorate said it had arrested two Turkish nationals working in the city and closed all Turkish restaurants and shops, saying this act is aimed at abiding by the orders of Haftar’s general command that says “Turkey is backing up terrorist groups in Libya.” The two Turks have been working and living in Ajdabiya for 20 years. “All concerned authorities in southeastern Libya and oil crescent region to close all Turkish restaurants and shops.” The security directorate said. Meanwhile, the Turkish Defence Minister Huluski Akar warned that Haftar’s forces would pay a “very heavy price” for any attacks on Turkish interests. He told reporters after G20 Summit in Japan that any threats and attacks against Turkish interests or nationals would have a very strong response and “Turkey is ready to confront any hostile acts against it.” [Libya Observer, 30.06.2019].
GHARIAN
- armed clashed resumed on June 26 between forces of Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) and the troops loyal to the country’s east based general Khalifa Haftar near the capital, Tripoli. The fighting was reported to have taken place in Abu Shiba area near Tripoli’s southern city of Gharian, which is being held by Haftar’s forces. “Our forces managed to take control of Qawasim area and Abu Shiba agriculture project near Gharian city,” GNA’s spokesperson, Ahmed Abushahma, told Arraed channel [Marsad, 27.06.2019];
- the Khalifa Haftar Libyan National Army (LNA) and their allied forces suffered a major setback today when the Tripoli forces aligned to the internationally recognized Fayez al-Sirraj-led Presidency Council and Government of National Accord pushed them back to the north of Gharian. The situation is still fluid with conflicting reports. However, it seems that at some point today, local forces aligned with Tripoli from either within or just outside Gharian – caught the pro Haftar forces by surprise forcing them to withdraw in haste. The attack was also supported by air strikes. Equally, it now seems that the heavy attack and focus by the Tripoli forces on the disused Tripoli International Airport may have been a decoy attack. Alternatively, the pro Haftar forces may have over committed forces to the Tripoli Airport front leaving an opportunity for the Tripoli forces to exploit light cover in their back lines in Gharian. The pro Haftar forces have been in control of the mountain city of Gharian since the eve of the launch by Haftar of the Tripoli attack on 4 April [Libya Herald, 26.06.2019].
TRIPOLI
- the Washington Post said a US Air Force veteran Jamie Sponaugle was released from captivity in Libya this week where he has been held since early May by Khalifa Haftar’s forces on accusations of being a mercenary, according to US government officials and a source familiar with the matter. Sponaugle was freed after being held captive for weeks by forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar. While the State Department claims that US policy of supporting the GNA remains enact, President Donald Trump’s praise for Haftar earlier this year signaled a departure from previous administration statements condemning the rogue Libyan general’s march on the capital. “We are always pleased to see Americans held captive overseas returned home to their friends and family,” Robert O’Brien told CNN Tuesday, after the Washington Post broke the story [Libyan Express, 26.06.2019];
- the Libyan National Army (LNA) forces have repulsed a major offensive by the militias allied with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) in Al-Yarmouk front line in Wadi al-Rabea area, Tripoli, said the Media Center of Al-Karama Operations Room of LNA on Wednesday. The Center confirmed that LNA forces had defeated the attacking forces and inflicted heavy losses on equipment and personnel. LNA forces also managed to defeat the militias led by Osama al-Juwaili after a failed attempt conducted by the militias in Abu Shiba project area near Gharian, according to the Media Center [Address Libya, 26.06.2019].
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- the US Department of State said that it was taking the reports on the misuse of US-made weapons very seriously, according to Al Jazeera channel. “Permanent peace and stability in Libya can only be achieved through a political solution,” the US Department of State said, reaffirming its support for the continued efforts of the UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame [Libya Observer, 30.06.2019];
- Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that his country will take all measures in respect to the threats made by the spokesman of Haftar’s forces to the Turkish citizens in Libya and to targeting Turkish ships and aircraft. Erdogan told the news conference at the G20 summit in Japan that Turkey will pursue different actions and policies, in the event those threats proved to be serious, noting that he, personally, have received no information in this regard. Spokesman for Haftar, Ahmed Mesmari, have threatened to arrest Turkish nationals residing in Libya, as well as targeting Turkish interests in the country, including companies, Turkish cargo vessels in Libyan waters, and commercial flights [Libya Observer, 30.06.2019];
- the United Nations is not aware of any safe harbor for migrants in Libya, said a UN refugee agency official yesterday. “We are not aware of any safe harbor in Libya. We continue discussions and search for agreements for landing even with North African countries,” said Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR’s special envoy for the Mediterranean. “Countries do not want to save them because they don’t know what to do with these people, but the cost of excluding migrants is higher than their inclusion,” he added [Address Libya, 27.06.2019];
- the Donald Trump administration is seeing a “small” resurgence in the Islamic State’s numbers in Libya since the Libyan National Army (LNA) began a military operation in Tripoli more than two months ago, the Pentagon’s second-ranking military official said, according to Al-Monitor. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Paul Selva said he suspects that forces supporting the Government of National Accord in Tripoli may be able to hold out “for weeks or months” against (LNA) [Address Libya, 27.06.2019];
- Italy’s High Council of Defense affirmed that “Libya remains a priority for our country” and called on all conflicting parties in Tripoli to return to dialogue. Yesterday, Italian President Sergio Mattarella chaired the Council’s meeting at Quirinal Palace. Among those present at the meeting were Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Labor Minister Luigi Di Maio and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini. The Council made a point of situation on the main crisis areas, on the state of international terrorism and on the commitment of the Italian army in the various “operational theaters”, with particular regard to the Mediterranean area [Address Libya, 26.06.2019];
- France’s embassy in Libya has welcomed the decision of the Libyan Interior Minister, Fathi Bashagha, to resume joint security and training cooperation between the two countries. On Twitter on Monday, the French embassy said it was looking forward to cooperating with Libya in anti-terrorism efforts, training, and fighting money laundering and organized crime. Libya’s Interior Minister backed down on his April decision to sever security and training cooperation with France last week when he ordered the Foreign Contact Department of his ministry to inform the French government of the resumption of Libya-France join cooperation [Libyan Express, 25.06.2019].
