In El-Feel, Libya’s state National Oil Corporation (NOC) confirmed today that following the cessation of military activity at the El-Feel oil field, production has resumed on November 28.
In Tripoli, the Military Information Division of the Libyan National Army (LNA) said on December 1 that the army’s forces controlled new positions in the areas of Azizia Al-Hira, south of Tripoli.
On the international level, the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) and Turkey have signed an agreement on maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea that could complicate Ankara’s disputes over energy exploration with other countries.
EL-FEEL OILFIELD
- Libya’s state National Oil Corporation (NOC) confirmed today that following the cessation of military activity at the El-Feel oil field, production has resumed on November 28. It added that ‘‘No NOC employees were harmed. Facilities sustained some minor damage but workers were able to resume production once conditions were deemed safe’’. NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanalla said: “I remind all parties that Libya’s oil and gas fields are vital sources of revenues for the benefit of all Libyans. They must not be treated as military targets.” “Any fighting in the vicinity of any of our facilities forces us to cease production, in order to ensure the safety of our employees. When production ceases, all Libyans lose out.” [Libya Herald, 28.11.2019];
- the Libyan National Army (LNA) managed to take back control of El-Feel oilfield following clashes with a militia allied with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) earlier on November 27. Pictures and videos obtained exclusively by The Address shows the aftermath of the attack as LNA soldiers put out the fires caused by the militant attack. The LNA repelled the attack quickly and carried out airstrikes that resulted in a number of militants killed and five armed vehicles destroyed, according to LNA’s spokesman General Brigadier Ahmed al-Mesmari [Address Libya, 27.11.2019];
- forces aligned to the internationally recognized government in Tripoli led by Fayez al-Sarraj attacked and occupied the El-Feel oilfield on November 27. Production has been halted. The field had previously been held by forces aligned to Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army (LNA).The LNA has mounted a counterattack with airstrikes and ground attacks [Libya Herald, 27.11.2019].
KABAO
- identical sources from the mountain town of Kabao have confirmed the targeting of a civilian airstrip, still under construction in the town, noting that no significant damage was reported. The sources said on November 29, that an aircraft belonging to Haftar’s forces targeted a deserted area near the airstrip, 20 kilometers south of the centre of Kabao [Libya Observer, 30.11.2019].
TRIPOLI
- the Military Information Division of the Libyan National Army (LNA) said on December 1 that the army’s forces controlled new positions in the areas of Azizia Al-Hira, south of Tripoli. This comes after LNA forces clashed with forces of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), which forced the latter to endure heavy human and military casualties. “As a continuation of the military operations in the past hours, the Air Force fighter jets carried out a number of sorties, including more than one airstrike on the positions of the enemy in the axes of the capital,” LNA’s Military Information Division said [Address Libya, 01.12.2019];
- foreign aircraft backing up Khalifa Haftar’s forces have carried out airstrikes on civilian houses in Al-Sawani, killing two people and injuring ten others, Volcano of Rage Operation’s media office said on December 1. The media office said among the civilian casualties, there are women and children and posted a video showing the destructive aftermath of the airstrike [Libya Observer, 01.12.2019];
- the Libyan National Army (LNA) forces have fully controlled Al-Hira south of Tripoli and advanced to Al-Aziziya. “Military units of the 166th Infantry Battalion of LNA have extended full control over Al-Hira and continue to advance to Al-Aziziya,” announced Battalion 166 of LNA on November 29 [Address Libya, 29.11.2019];
- Libyan Army forces under the command of the Presidential Council’s government have made significant advances on Khallatat and Yarmouk Camp frontlines after targeting Khalifa Haftar’s forces with heavy artillery shelling on November 28 morning [Libya Observer, 28.11.2019];
- the Libyan National Army (LNA) announced on November 25 a no-fly zone over Tripoli and its environs, said the Military Information Division of LNA. The no-fly zone extends from Qarabulli east of Tripoli to the Maya near Zawiya west of Tripoli and to Rabta near Gharyan south of Tripoli through south of Tarhuna, the Division explained in a video on November 26. Mitiga airport is excluded from the no-fly zone, it added. Any other aircraft must request prior authorization if it wants to enter the no-fly zone, the Division noted out [Address Libya, 26.11.2019].
UMM AL ARANIB
- the Media Centre for Volcano of Rage Operation has confirmed the killing of a whole family including children, in addition to two migrant workers in an air raid conducted by a drone of Haftar. The air raid took place in Umm Al Aranib area near Murzuq town southwest of Libya, late November 28 night, according to the media office [Libya Observer, 30.11.2019].
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- Greece on November 29 summoned the Libyan ambassador to divulge the contents of the Turkey–Libya agreement on territorial waters by Thursday, otherwise, it will start expulsion procedures, diplomatic sources say. Along with Ambassador Maiza K.Y. Gzllal, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias will invite Libyan Interim Speaker Al-Sadiq Al-Kehili to Athens to discuss the issue [Address Libya, 01.12.2019];
- the UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame has attributed the intensity of fighting in Libya to the new confrontation between Washington and Moscow as well as the flow of weapons to the country. Salame told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on November 30 that the first complexity in the Libyan conflict is attributed to US-Russia tensions as reports point to Russian security firms being on the ground in Libya [Libya Observer, 30.11.2019];
- the UN mission in Libya has called for an immediate cessation of military operations near El-Feel oil field for the safety of staff and oil installations. “The disruption of oil production would affect all Libyans across the country and would increase their suffering,” the UN mission stated on November 27, expressing concern over the hostilities in El-Feel field and the suspension of its production [Libya Observer, 28.11.2019];
- the Egyptian Foreign Ministry condemned Ankara’s signing of two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for security and maritime cooperation with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA). The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on November 27 that “such memorandums have no legal effect, as they cannot be recognized in light of the fact that Article VIII of the Skhirat political agreement on Libya” [Address Libya, 28.11.2019];
- Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said on November 27 that any discussion between Turkey and the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) to establish an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is ”completely unacceptable” [Address Libya, 28.11.2019];
- the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) and Turkey have signed an agreement on maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea that could complicate Ankara’s disputes over energy exploration with other countries. Turkey, which announced the accord and a deal on expanded security and military cooperation on November 27, gave no details of their memorandum of understanding and did not specify where Turkish and Libyan waters meet [Address Libya, 28.11.2019];
- the US State Department’s assistant secretary for near eastern affairs, David Schenker, was reported by CNN as saying that Russia is deploying troops in significant numbers to support Khalifa Haftar, saying the Russians are destabilizing Libya.”Russian regulars are being deployed in significant numbers to support Haftar’s forces,” Schenker said, describing their presence as “incredibly destabilizing.” [Libya Observer, 27.11.2019];
- the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said military solutions won’t bring about stability to Libya. Conte said in a televised statement with Adnkronos in Rome on November 25 that instead of the military solution, Libyans need to work for a political solution. He said his government has been working to convince all state leaders to leave out the military solution as it doesn’t achieve stability and doesn’t end extremism and terrorism [Libya Observer, 26.11.2019].
