In Tripoli, the Libyan Army forces under the command of Presidential Council’s government have regained control of parts of Al-Tawaisha and Al-Tughar – between Al-Aziziya and Tripoli.
in Sirte, spokesman of the Counterterrorism Force, Abdul Basit Tikka has confirmed the arrest of an ISIS operative in Sirte and referring him to the Public Prosecution.
In Misrata, the Libyan National Army (LNA) carried out more than 7 successive air strikes on the positions of the militias allied with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).
On the international level, Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit renewed on October 18 his call for an immediate ceasefire in Tripoli.
A statement issued by the spokesperson for the EU on October 15 said that there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis, hostilities must end immediately, and it called for a return to UNSMIL-led political dialogue
MISRATA
- Libyan Military Spokesman, Colonel Mohamed Gannouno has said that the drone shot down by the Libyan army east of Misrata at dawn on October 18 is the third of its kind since the beginning of the aggression on Tripoli. “The drone is a Chinese-made drone type “Wing Loong” and carries eight guided missiles, Gannouno explained in a press statement on October 18. He added that the drone was supplied by the UAE to Haftar’s forces. The drone was shot down by the Libyan air Defence late October 17 while on task to bomb civilian targets in Misrata, according to Gannouno [Libya Observer, 19.10.2019];
- the Libyan National Army (LNA) carried out more than 7 successive air strikes on the positions of the militias allied with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), announced Dignity Operations Room of LNA. LNA air strikes targeted sites in Misrata Air Academy and some other militia positions, the Room said in a statement on its official Facebook account early on October 18 [Address Libya, 18.10.2019].
SIRTE
- spokesman of the Counterterrorism Force, Abdul Basit Tikka has confirmed the arrest of an ISIS operative in Sirte and referring him to the Public Prosecution. “The force received information indicating that an ISIS operative had recently entered Sirte after fleeing the city in 2000, following its liberation from ISIS,” Tikka said in a statement on October 16. “A well-executed ambush set up in cooperation with the Protection and Security Force of Sirte has led to the successful arrest of the suspect,” he added [Libya Observer, 17.10.2019].
TRIPOLI
- the Libyan Army forces under the command of Presidential Council’s government have regained control of parts of Al-Tawaisha and Al-Tughar – between Al-Aziziya and Tripoli – after retreating from them days ago leaving them for Khalifa Haftar’s forces without fighting. Eyewitnesses from Al-Tughar said Haftar’s forces forced many residents in the area to leave since entering the district on October 17 plus carrying out looting acts in different houses and properties [Libya Observer, 20.10.2019];
- scores of deaths and injuries from Khalifa Haftar’s forces – 9th Brigade – were documented by social media footage after heavy clashes in southern Tripoli between Haftar’s forces and Libyan Army forces under the command of the Presidential Council’s government. The Libyan Army forces launched an offensive on October 16 morning on Ain Zara, Khalit al-Furjan and Yarmouk Camp frontlines, seizing new positions especially on Ain Zara frontline, where Special Deterrence Force fighters controlled the strategic Adem Buildings area, which was used by Haftar’s forces snipers [Libya Observer, 16.10.2019];
- the Libyan National Army (LNA) forces arrested on October 16 an ISIS member following an operation carried out by the special forces group 004 inside Al-Ghararat area close to Mitiga Airbase and Souq al-Jumaa in Tripoli, said the Media Center of Dignity Operations Room of LNA. The Center confirmed that the terrorist was transferred from one of the battle axes in Tripoli to Benghazi [Address Libya, 16.10.2019];
- Libyan Army forces under the command of the Presidential Council’s government have advanced on Khallatat frontline, Khalit al-Furjan and Al-Maher near Yarmouk Camp after heavy clashes with Khalifa Haftar’s forces since October 15 morning [Libya Observer, 15.10.2019];
- three young girls have been killed and their mother and little brother were severely injured in an airstrike by Khalifa Haftar’s warplanes on Al-Fernaj neighborhood in Tripoli, spokesman for Health Ministry of Presidential Council’s government Fawzi Awnis confirmed on Monday October 14. Awnis added that at least five other people had been wounded in the airstrike that hit a residential area, saying that one girl has had her leg amputated [Libya Observer, 14.10.2019].
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali has called on Libyans to be strong and united to achieve peace in their country, expressing concern over the ramification of the offensive on Tripoli. This came in a meeting with the Head of the High Council of State (HCS) Khalid al-Mishri on October 18 in Addis Ababa [Libya Observer, 19.10.2019];
- Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit renewed on October 18 his call for an immediate ceasefire in Tripoli. In a statement, the AL chief urged “all Libyan parties to engage in the political process that is sponsored by the United Nations for reaching a settlement of the Libyan crisis.” [Address Libya, 19.10.2019];
- the protracted conflict in Libya could destabilize the whole of Africa, Italian President Sergio Mattarella said on October 16 after talks with his US counterpart Donald Trump. “There is great concern about the situation in Libya, which threatens the stability of the entire African continent,” Mattarella told reporter [Address Libya, 17.10.2019];
- the U.S., through its Tripoli embassy now located in Tunis, outlined on October 15 what it refers to as its efforts in support of Libyan peace. It came through a summary by U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, in an update on his first 60 days in office [Libya Herald, 16.10.2019];
- a statement issued by the spokesperson for the EU on October 15 said that there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis, hostilities must end immediately, and it called for a return to UNSMIL-led political dialogue. The statement came on the back of an airstrike attributed by Tripoli to Khalifa Haftar’s forces that killed three children in the Al-Fernaj residential area of Tripoli. The Haftar forces have denied responsibility for their deaths [Libya Herald, 16.10.2019];
- the Chinese chargé d’affaires in Libya said China is investigating the use of its drones in the fighting in Tripoli. The Chinese chargé d’affaires said that his country as a permanent member at the Security Council is committed to the UN resolutions as well as to having firm relations with Libya, the Presidential Council’s Foreign Ministry said [Libya Observer, 16.10.2019];
- a return for the political process in Libya will require compliance with the arms embargo, a truce then a ceasefire and a unified Libyan National Army, France’s Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian said on October 15. In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, Le Drian said that those in the Libyan crisis are “starting to grasp the fact that there can’t be a military solution to the crisis.” [Address Libya, 16.10.2019];
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on October 16 that Libya risks becoming a key terrorist hub in North Africa from which terrorist cells may continue to spread into other countries. “Libya risks becoming the main terrorist hub in North Africa where this disease [terrorism] may spread into other countries and continents,” Lavrov said at the 18th meeting of heads of special services, security and law enforcement agencies of Russia’s Federal Security Service partner states, held in Sochi [Address Libya, 16.10.2019];
- the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has condemned the airstrike on October 14 that killed three children in Al-Fernaj neighborhood in Tripoli, deploring in the strongest possible terms the reckless disregard for the lives of innocent people, and calls for the immediate cessation of such indiscriminate attacks [Libya Observer, 14.10.2019].
