Click to see full-size image
On the evening of January 26th, Libyan National Army (LNA) spokesperson Brigadier General Ahmed al-Mesmari gave a press conference.
المؤتمر الصحفي للناطق بإسم القائد العام
المؤتمر الصحفي للناطق بإسم القائد العام
Posted by الناطق الرسمي باسم القيادة العامة للقوات المسلحة العربية الليبية on Sunday, January 26, 2020
In the briefing, al-Mesmari said that the UN-assigned Government of National Accord (GNA) and the militias it employed repeatedly breached the ceasefire, thus the LNA was forced to retaliate.
He said that all fronts Tripoli are now witnessing clashes after the militant armed groups of the GNA have violated the ceasefire agreement so many times, and the GNA forces have the right to defend themselves.
“The solution in Libya is not a political one, but rather military one,” al-Mesmari said.
“GNA are trying to buy time to move militants from Syria and to reinforce Turkish bases on Libyan soil,” he added.
The spokesperson further elaborated that Turkey, and specifically Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan began recruiting al-Nusra militants in Syria to send to Libya to fight on behalf of the GNA, giving them a down payment of $1000 before they even arrive.
Al-Mesmari alleged that Turkey was giving captured ISIS terrorists a choice to go and fight in Libya or stay in prison.
Finally, al-Mesmari said that attacks on Misrata, which is the primary stronghold of the GNA forces didn’t breach the ceasefire, since it was not under the scope of the Western operations.
#LNA spox.
Misrata is not in the western Ops region,hence not covered by the ceasefire.
Today operations on AbuGrian was a Preemptive attack in response to a large gathering of #terrorists groups both from #Misrata and #Syria, planing to attach our forces in Alwashka.#Libya pic.twitter.com/uP5TY9xTvQ— M.LNA (@LNA2019M) January 26, 2020
According to reports the attack on Abu Grian went poorly and the LNA lost 3, in addition to 19 being injured.
19 wounded and 3 killed in failed LNA attack on Abu Grein.
— Mohsen Derregia (@MohsenDerregia) January 26, 2020
The LNA is attempting to push west of Sirte, and is reportedly making progress.
#عاااااااااااااااجل #بوقرين
القوات المسلحة تتقدم في محيط منطقة بوقرين وسط تقهقر وتراجع الميليشيات والمرتزقة السوريين نحو مدينة #مصراتة #ليبيا pic.twitter.com/xxpwwaTYUU— MOHAMMED MAHJOOB (@M_MAHJOOB32) January 26, 2020
As typical both sides claim that success is being achieved.
وحدات القوات المسلحة العربية الليبية تتقدم وتسيطر على وديان وقرى جنوب منطقة ابوقرين 100كيلو متر شرق #مصراتة الآن
— ابن ليبيا السرتاوي?????? (@MstrMax11) January 26, 2020
On the side of the GNA, it claimed that their forces were being successful in repelling the attacks and said that they had killed LNA troops in clashes and shelling.
عاجل | الإعلام الحربي لبركان الغضب تعلن مقتل 11 من مليشيات حفتر و 4 مرتزقة سودانيين في صد الهجوم الغادر غرب سرت. pic.twitter.com/9jVRuxFpmL
— ليبيا بانوراما (@lpc_ly) January 26, 2020
Allegedly 11 LNA soldiers, in addition 4 Sudanese mercenaries had been killed.
GNA forces further allegedly captured a LNA vehicle the Abu Qurayn area.
#شاهد | قوات الوفاق تسيطر على آلية عسكرية تابعة لمسلحي حفتر بمنطقة بوقرين pic.twitter.com/tlEIOayJam
— Libya Alahrar TV – قناة ليبيا الأحرار (@libyaalahrartv) January 26, 2020
تقرير | قوات الوفاق تستعيد أبوقرين وتكبد مليشيات حفتر خسائر كبيرة pic.twitter.com/CmnJdouAcd
— Libya Alahrar TV – قناة ليبيا الأحرار (@libyaalahrartv) January 26, 2020
The GNA said LNA attacks at three positions, at the above-mentioned Abu Qurayn, west of Sirte were repelled, tank seized and number of vehicles destroyed.
Attempting to push for a solution more in favor of the GNA, and the potential unblocking of Libya’s oil exports, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Egypt and spoke to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Met with President Sisi today and addressed the pointless and tragic death of detained U.S. citizen Moustafa Kassem in Egypt. On #Libya, President Sisi and I agreed on the urgent need for a return to a @UN-facilitated political process and a ceasefire. pic.twitter.com/xhhRxQhjwM
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 19, 2020
Pompeo said that al-Sis had agreed that a political solution was the only way, and that UN-facilitated process (and likely oil exports for the foreign investors), as well as a ceasefire were the only way.
This is similar to what Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his government had repeated for a while, that a political solution was the only way in Libya, which is evidently something that the LNA seems to disagree with.
The GNA, on the morning of January 27th said that due to alleged violations of the ceasefire, it may reconsider its commitment to it.
حكومة الوفاق الليبية تتحدث عن انتهاكات وتهدد بإعادة النظر بأي حوارات #العربية_عاجل https://t.co/a1vIGVFnOW
— العربية عاجل (@AlArabiya_Brk) January 27, 2020
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
