The US has warned the Libyan National Army (LNA) that its affiliation with a Russian paramilitary force and perpetuation of the oil shutdown contradicts the interests of Libya. “The U.S. delegation emphasized that the LNA’s affiliation with the Wagner group, a Russian Ministry of Defense proxy, and perpetuation of the …
Read More »Former Libya envoy accuses Security Council of ‘hypocrisy’
A former U.N. envoy to Libya has accused the Security Council of “hypocrisy” and of undermining his efforts to bring peace to the war-torn North African country. In a podcast interview, Ghassan Salame said the majority of the U.N. Security Council supported the military offensive launched last year by Libyan …
Read More »Turkey: France ignoring UAE, Egypt violations in Libya
The Turkish ambassador to Paris yesterday accused France of having a biased policy over Libya and turning a blind eye to violations of the UN arms embargo by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt to the benefit of eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar. “When one supports the legitimate government [Government …
Read More »Turkey accuses ‘biased’ France of allowing Libya embargo violations in support of Haftar
Ankara has taken aim at France for allegedly ignoring violations of an international arms embargo placed on Libya, claiming that illegal activity was being carried out to benefit commander Khalifa Haftar. According to Reuters, Turkey’s ambassador to Paris, Ismail Hakki Musa, said on Wednesday that the United Arab Emirates and …
Read More »Turkish envoy says France suspending role in NATO naval mission
Turkey’s ambassador to France on Wednesday said that Paris had informed NATO it was suspending its involvement in a naval operation in the Mediterranean after a probe into an incident between French and Turkish warships did not back Paris’ claims. Ties between NATO allies France and Turkey have soured in …
Read More »Oil prices drop on prospect of returning Libyan supplies
Oil prices slipped on Tuesday amid rising COVID-19 cases and a possible return of Libyan oil production, which has been down to a trickle since the start of the year. The more-active September contract for Brent LCOc2 fell 37 cents, or 0.88%, to $41.48 a barrel by 1125 GMT, paring …
Read More »‘Sisi did not consider Sirte a red line when ISIS occupied it’, ex-US envoy says
Former US Ambassador to Libya, Deborah Jones, expressed her surprise at the statements of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Sirte after he warned that he considered the town a “red line” should the internationally-backed Libyan Government of National Accord aim to take control of it. Speaking to a Libyan …
Read More »Libya’s GNA: ‘Liberation’ of Sirte, Jufra ‘more urgent than ever’
The “liberation” of Sirte and Jufra from Khalifa Haftar’s forces has become “more urgent than ever” for Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) following the deployment of mercenaries in the country, the United Nations-recognised government’s army spokesperson said. In a statement on Saturday, Muhammad Qanunu said “Sirte was the most …
Read More »At least six migrants died, 93 rescued off Libya’s coast
A woman who gave birth at sea was among 93 migrants rescued off Libyan shores as they tried to reach Europe, but six others died along the way, the UN’s migration agency said. The survivors were brought back overnight to the port city of Khoms, 120km (75 miles) west of …
Read More »Italy defence minister: ‘Our presence on Libyan ground is important and necessary’
Italy’s Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini stressed the importance and necessity of Italy maintaining a presence in Libya. During a meeting of the Foreign and Defence Committees in the Senate and the House of Representatives dedicated to Italy’s participation in international missions, Guerini stated that the Libyan situation is well-known, pointing …
Read More »Libya defence minister to Sisi: Nothing will stop our progress towards Sirte
The Ministry of Defence of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) said it will continue in its moves to recapture the eastern city of Sirte from the forces of renegade General Khalifa Haftar despite the warning of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi that the city represents a “red line” …
Read More »UN: Libyan coast guard intercepts 71 Europe-bound migrants
Libya’s coast guard intercepted 71 migrants hoping to make it to Europe, including four women and two children and returned them to the capital Tripoli, the U.N. migration organization said Thursday. The International Organization for Migration tweeted that the migrants, who were stopped late Wednesday, were given food and emergency …
Read More »France ‘will not tolerate’ Turkey’s role in Libya, Macron says
France will not tolerate Turkey’s military intervention in Libya, President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday, accusing Ankara of playing “a dangerous game”. Turkey has intervened decisively in recent weeks in Libya, providing air support, weapons, and allied fighters from Syria to help the government based in Tripoli repel a year-long …
Read More »Al-Sisi’s intervention threat declaration of war: Libya
The Libyan government on Sunday dubbed the Egyptian president’s military intervention threat as a “declaration of war.” “The statements of the Egyptian President [Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi], which are harassing Libya’s sovereignty and meddling in its internal affairs, and supporting putschists, militias, and mercenaries in Libya are unacceptable,” the government’s press office …
Read More »UK media name 25-year-old Libyan Khairi Saadallah as Reading terrorist attack suspect
A 25-year-old Libyan man, Khairi Saadallah, was named as the suspect in a stabbing spree that left three people dead in the UK, local media reported. The crime is being investigated as a terrorist attack. Saadallah is reportedly being questioned by the police. According to the media, security forces are …
Read More »Egypt readies army to intervene in Libya ‘if necessary’
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday said his country has a legitimate right to intervene in neighbouring Libya and ordered his army to be ready to carry out any mission outside the country, if necessary. Sisi’s comments came amid high tensions over regional rival Turkey’s intervention in Libya. He …
Read More »UN chief shocked at Libya mass graves in recently freed town
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep shock late Friday at the discovery of mass graves in Libyan territory recently recaptured from forces commanded by Khalifa Hifter and called for a transparent investigation. The U.N. chief also called on Libya’s U.N.-supported government to secure the mass graves, identify the victims, establish …
Read More »Libya’s Haftar to Accept Ceasefire in Cairo Today: Diplomats
Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar has accepted an Egyptian-sponsored ceasefire and a political initiative to end the war he launched more than a year ago to take the capital Tripoli, two Western diplomats said. Haftar is expected to take part in a ceremony attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and …
Read More »Libyan government says it has entered Haftar stronghold Tarhouna
Forces loyal to Libya’s internationally recognised government said on Friday they had entered Tarhouna, the last major stronghold of eastern commander Khalifa Haftar near Tripoli, capping the sudden collapse of his 14-month offensive. There was no immediate comment from Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) on whether its forces remained in …
Read More »Libya’s UN-backed government announces taking over Tripoli
The spokesman of the UN-backed Libyan government’s forces, Mohamed Gonono, on Thursday announced taking over the entire capital Tripoli and expelling the rival eastern-based army. “Our brave forces have taken control of all of Tripoli, after regaining control of southern Tripoli from the militias of Haftar (eastern-based army commander),” Gonono …
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