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On July 16th, spokesperson of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Brigadier General Ahmed al-Mesmari said that Turkey was pushing more mercenaries and equipment into Libya.
المتحدث باسم الجيش الليبي اللواء أحمد المسماري: تركيا لازالت تدفع بمزيد من المرتزقة والمعدات العسكرية إلى ليبيا
— سكاي نيوز عربية-عاجل (@SkyNewsArabia_B) July 16, 2020
According to him, there were some rumors that Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s forces had been withdrawing from Sirte and leaving it for Turkey and the Government of National Accord (GNA).
He said those rumors were entirely unfounded.
عاجل | المتحدث باسم الجيش الليبي: لا صحة لما يُشاع عن انسحاب قواتنا من مواقعها في سرت أو اتفاقنا مع وفد أمريكي على تسليم منطقة الهلال النفطي لأطراف أوروبية
— العين الإخبارية – عاجل (@AlainBRK) July 16, 2020
He vowed that the LNA Air Force and Air Defense were completely prepared to protect and operate on the entire Libyan territory.
عاجل | المتحدث باسم الجيش الليبي: القوات الجوية جاهزة بشكل كامل وقوات الدفاع الجوي تغطي كافة الأراضي الليبية
— العين الإخبارية – عاجل (@AlainBRK) July 16, 2020
He, furthermore, claimed that the Muslim Brotherhood, led by Tunisian Parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi was “reeling and about to fall.”
#اللواء أحمد المسماري: تنظيم الإخوان بقيادة الغنوشي في تونس بدأ يترنح وأوشك على السقوط. #الساعة24 pic.twitter.com/gprJPSXJE3
— الساعة 24 (@alsaaa24) July 16, 2020
The LNA received a new shipment of APCs and battle tanks.
Apc's and tanks have been delivered to the #LNA in a new shipment that arrived yesterday .#Libya pic.twitter.com/VRXbPkBCVr
— Ouais Hasairi (@HasairiOuais) July 16, 2020
In a rare occurrence in recent days, the LNA artillery targeted GNA positions in Abu Qurayn, south-east of Misrata.
#مصراتة ..
استهداف بالمدفعية الثقيلة من قبل القوات المسلحة العربية الليبية إتجاة نقاط وتمركز عناصر الحشد المليشياوي المواليين إلى #تركيا جنوب شرق مدينة مصراتة ..— Khaled Dernah (@KhaledDernah3) July 16, 2020
At that positions, an image was published of a M101 Howitzer in Turkish camo, which was allegedly recently delivered to the GNA.
first time seeing a M101 howitzer in #Turkish camo with the #GNA .#Libya pic.twitter.com/ppqJ4QWXkh
— Ouais Hasairi (@HasairiOuais) July 17, 2020
The Turkish side continues supplying equipment and troops to al-Watiya with its Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.
Back to Al Watiya AFB second day in a row: Turkish Air Force’s Erkilet based 222nd Squadron’s Lockheed C130 Hercules 711468 turboprop transport plane flew from Konya AFB to ‘TurAFB’ Al Watiya in Nuqat al Khams #Tripolitania. This is the 30th TurAF flight to #Libya in last 2months pic.twitter.com/0pStekb16G
— Yörük Işık (@YorukIsik) July 17, 2020
On the diplomatic front, GNA President Fayez al-Sarraj met with Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese and the two sides discussed joint efforts to reach a suitable conclusion to the conflict in Libya.
The head of Libya’s Presidential Council Fayez Al-Sarraj discussed with Italy’s Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese preliminary steps to the return of Italian companies to resume work in Libya, plus Italy’s assistance in mine clearance activities.
#BreakingNews: Head of #Libya's Presidential Council Fayez Al-Sarraj discusses with #Italy's Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese preliminary steps to the return of Italian companies to resume work in Libya, plus Italy's assistance in mine clearance activities
— Libya Alahrar (@LibyaalahrarEN) July 16, 2020
The US State Department said that Turkey had “inserted itself” in Libya and that it was preparing to march on Sirte.
#ليبيا — الخارجية الأميركية لـ"الحدث": تركيا أقحمت نفسها بليبيا وربما تعدّ أنقرة للتقدم نحو سرت
— ا لـ حـ ـد ث (@AlHadath) July 16, 2020
The U.S. on July 15th imposed sanctions on three individuals and five entities that are linked to Russia’s mythical paramilitary Wagner Group, after accusing the mercenary group of laying landmines in and around Libya’s capital Tripoli.
The sanctions announcement came just hours after U.S. Africa Command accused the Wagner Group of “complicating Libyan cease-fire efforts” by placing mines and other explosive devices in and around Tripoli. It included photos of what appeared to be booby-traps and improvised mines that it said were placed by the Wagner Group.
“The Russian-state sponsored Wagner Group is demonstrating a total disregard for the safety and security of Libyans,” said Africa Command director of operations Maj. Gen. Bradford Gering.
“The Wagner Group’s irresponsible tactics are prolonging the conflict and are responsible for the needless suffering and the deaths of innocent civilians. Russia has the power to stop them, just not the will,” Gering said.
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Kiddies, I have a hunch that Sisi has just been given a green light to intervene in Libya. There is a lot of Egyptian military activity west of Mersa Matruh and 4 forward bases near and in Libya have been activated.
Yep. Egypt backed by quite a few nations vs Turkey in Libya. I wonder if Turkey convinced Azerbaijan to start attacking Armenia.
It’ll certainly be interesting to see. Egypt and it’s allies should launch an attack before the Turks/GNA can finish their preparations, it’d be easier to beat them before they’re ready. I think most would cheer at the sight of Erdogan getting kicked out of Libya.
That implies that Egypt would capable of a blitz krieg.
So what did Russia do all this time ,apart from talking hot air? Once Haftar noted that Russia was lukewarm he should have taken out Turk ships and planes from the very earliest days , not after the 30th Turk flight to Libya.
Life is sweet but don’t be a commander of a liberation army and only do what your BiGBrother allows you. If you think you are better than Gaddafi then prove it, die like a man and act for Libya even if Russia does not allow you. At least he should have shot one plane or a ship and blame it on an accident by inexperienced itchy-fingered soldiers!
A certain ” shitty country ” in the Middle East would love to have Egypt destroyed for ” past wrongs “. Idiot Sissi is walking into a trap.
That would be an immense mistake.
Egypt already has one terrorist neighbor to the east, now unless they want another one to the west (Turkey-AlQaeda) they better be ready to push the neo-ottoman terrorists out of Libya!
I just hope the end of Libya, and Argel and Egypt divide that territory in “logical half” leaving Tunisia alone and independent….
What does your last sentence mean?
All africa, and midle east, borders was defined by the European empires wills, and not by the ethnic true distribution.
If not split borders properly for ethnic fairness, join bigger for better power.