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On March 12th, Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) published an information sheet providing insight in to the financial loss amid the block of oil exports from the country.
The Government of National Accord (GNA) maintains that Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s forces, the Libyan National Army (LNA) blocked the oil ports, while Brigadier General Ahmed al-Mismari, LNA spokesperson has repeatedly said that it was the “people’s decision” to do so.
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Output from the North African country has fallen to 97,508 bpd as of March 11th, NOC said. The cost of the embargo, which began on January 18, preventing exports has reached $3.09 billion, it continued.
Production has dropped from 114,331 bpd as of March 8th, the company said. Before the block, output in Libya was 1.22 million bpd.
NOC said it was concerned about a likely fuel shortage as a result of reduced local production, the closing of the Zawiya refinery and a lack of government funding to import fuel. “All this is a result of the illegal blockade of oil facilities,” NOC said, calling for those responsible for the blockade to immediately lift it.
Meanwhile, on the ground in Libya, clashes between GNA and LNA continue.
On the evening of March 12th, the Suq Al Juma area in Tripoli was shelled by Haftar’s forces.
عاجل | تعرض منطقة سوق الجمعة بالعاصمة #طرابلس لقصف عشوائي من قبل قوات حفتر. pic.twitter.com/20NogQQAOJ
— عين ليبيا (@EanLibya) March 13, 2020
The GNA also responds to the shelling in other areas in Tripoli.
سقوط قذائف الميليشيات العشوائية على مناطق #طرابلس #ليبيا قبل قليل pic.twitter.com/KelGaAQrWr
— ابن ليبيا السرتاوي?????? (@MstrMax11) March 12, 2020
According to LNA spokesperson, Ahmed al-Mismari, the reason for the delay in liberating Tripoli is because the safety of civilians is taken into account.
He also said that the delay is also to provide the trapped militants with some time for introspection and to rethink their position.
عاجل | المتحدث باسم الجيش الليبي: قطر تمول عملية نقل المرتزقة والأسلحة إلى ليبيا عبر تركيا
— العين الإخبارية – عاجل (@AlainBRK) March 11, 2020
He also said that some of the militants transferred from Syria to Libya by Turkey have moved on to Europe.
عاجل | المتحدث باسم الجيش الليبي: بعض المرتزقة اللذين نقلتهم تركيا من سوريا إلى بلادنا دخلوا أوروبا الآن
— العين الإخبارية – عاجل (@AlainBRK) March 11, 2020
On March 9th and 10th, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar met with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel respectively.
A new UN envoy was chosen to replace Ghassan Salame, it’s Algerian Diplomat Ramtane Lamamra.
مراسلتنا: الأمم المتحدة تعين الدبلوماسي الجزائري رمطان لعمامرة مبعوثا دوليا جديدا إلى ليبيا خلفا لغسان سلامة
— سكاي نيوز عربية-عاجل (@SkyNewsArabia_B) March 11, 2020
Salame left because of stress, in his words.
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The Libyan National Army has hit the Mitiga Airport in Tripoli, Libya, killing Turkish servicemen stationed there, the LNA spokesperson said on Sunday.
According to spokesperson Ahmad al-Mismari, for the past several days, the LNA has struck Turkish military targets, including radars and air defences, located at the Mitiga air field. He noted that the LNA had also destroyed everything in the Misrata region that is viewed as having a “Turkish presence”, including military depots.