Fighting Throughout Libya Stalls, As Diplomatic Games Take Place

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On June 10^th, the Government of National Accord (GNA)’s offensive on Sirte, under control of the Libyan National Army (LNA) appears to be stalled.

This is likely a sign of either Egypt’s large deployment of forces near Libya’s eastern border, following its proposal of a ceasefire, is effective, or that there’s some other behind-the-scenes movement.

It is likely that the Turkish support of the GNA deemed their forces and equipment insufficient and is deploying more, as it carried out the 22^nd flight of a military transport flight with a C-130 Hercules.

Turkey’s Libya campaign continues: Turkish Air Force’s Erkilet based 222nd Squadron’s Lockheed C-130 Hercules four-engine turboprop military transport is flying from Konya AFB to Misrata. This is the 22nd flight in the last 3 weeks. pic.twitter.com/KX22oKCzEp

— Yörük Işık (@YorukIsik) June 11, 2020

LNA spokesperson Brigadier General Ahmed al-Mesmari said that the GNA had retreated up to 90 kilometers away from Sirte after failing to mount an effective offensive and that the LNA air force was targeting their positions.

عاجل | المتحدث باسم الجيش الليبي: المليشيات انسحبت بشكل عشوائي لمسافة 90 كيلومترًا غربي سرت، وطائراتنا استهدفتها أثناء تقهقرها

— العين الإخبارية – عاجل (@AlainBRK) June 10, 2020

US President Donald Trump spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. They discussed ways for foreign forces to depart from Libya, and Trump praised al-Sisi’s attempts at reaching a political reconciliation in the country.

البيت الأبيض: ترامب ناقش في اتصال هاتفي مع السيسي سبل رحيل كل القوات الأجنبية عن ليبيا

— سكاي نيوز عربية-عاجل (@SkyNewsArabia_B) June 10, 2020

There was a @POTUS–@AlsisiOfficial phone call today, according to the @WhiteHouse. pic.twitter.com/WiURyuvmeJ

— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) June 10, 2020

This is significant because, at least formally, presents a US stance that doesn’t directly support Turkey, a NATO ally. Which could also be a potential reason as to why the GNA’s campaign of recapturing objectives has stalled.

Separately, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone and expressed concern over the large-scale clashes taking place in Libya.

On the ground, the GNA has captured an LNA Mi-35 helicopter and tried to transport it to Tripoli.

Accidentally they got it stuck under a bridge.

#Libyan Mi-35 that was captured near Tarhuna a few days ago is stuck under a bridge while being transported in #Tripoli pic.twitter.com/DD3ygHsO9u

— Ab Frwn (@ab_frw) June 10, 2020

A container full of decomposing corpses was discovered in southern Tripoli by GNA forces.

مزيد من جرائم مليشيات حفتر :
قوات بركان الغضب تعثر على حاوية ممتلئة بالجثت المتحلله بالقرب من منطقة قصر بن غشير pic.twitter.com/aVXBmBysJQ

— المنارة للإعلام (@AlmanaraMedia) June 10, 2020

The area was largely used as a forward position for LNA when they fought in Tripoli.

A similar mass grave was discovered in Tarhuna, which was recently recaptured by GNA.

A new mass grave has been discovered in Tarhuna city pic.twitter.com/vuCl35xgfC

— The Libya Observer (@Lyobserver) June 10, 2020

Finally, as the fighting appears to have stalled Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar emphasized that the LNA wouldn’t stop its fight to preserve Libya, its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

#عااااااااااااجل
المشير #خليفة_حفتر :
الجيش الوطني الليبي ستواصل الحفاظ على الوطن وسيادته ووحدة أراضيه. #ليبيا

— MOHAMMED MAHJOOB (@M_MAHJOOB32) June 10, 2020

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• Turkey Rejects Ceasefire Proposal Forcing Egypt To Consider Direct Military Action
• Military Situation In Libya On June 10, 2020 (Map Update)
• GNA And Turkey Primed For Offensive On Sirte, But There Appears To Be No Rush

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