Many residents who belong to tribes who supported
militias loyal to CIA-linked General Haftar worry that reprisals could
be taken against them. On the other hand, if they flee their homes could
be occupied and vandalized. The Libyan Dawn fighters won against tribal
fighters from Zintan, Warshafan, and Warfallah. There are claims that residents belonging to these tribes are being rounded up.
On the other hand, there are reports that the situation in Tripoli is now much calmer. Bishop Giovanni Martinelli, Vicar Apostolic of Tripoli said:
The highest spiritual leader in Libya Grand Mufti Sheikh Al-Ghariani is said to have promoted the Islamist takeover of Tripoli through broadcasts from a TV station in the UK. He is said to have urged Libya Dawn to take a "firm hand" to assert control in city. The Guardian headline appears to me both sensational and misleading:
The Libyan Dawn certainly have attempted to punish government supporters as they took control. The newspaper Libya Herald reported 280 arson attacks. The former caretaker prime minister Abdullah Al-Thinni has fled after an arson attack on his villa.
The new Libyan parliament meeting in Tobruk resigned after they lost control of government ministries in Tripoli. They asked Al-Thinni to form a new government. However, Al-Thinni is obviously in no situation in which he can form a new government. However, the Islamists called a meeting of General National Congress and appointed their own prime minister who they charged with forming a new government. Reports about the situation in Tripoli vary. Libya's official news agency claimed that calm had returned to Tripoli. Some banks were reopening as well as shops and bakeries. Traffic was picking up and there were long lines at gas stations. Some families who had fled from the fighting had returned.
The Guardian had a much less rosy narrative:
There are a number of reports that Islamist militias control a dozen or so commercial jetliners. Some analysts fear that some of these aircraft may be used in attacks on the anniversary of 9/11. The Islamists still control Benghazi as well as Tripoli except for an airport on the outskirts controlled by Haftar.
On Tuesday, clashes between the Benghazi Revolutionary Shura Council an umbrella group of Islamist militias and Haftar forces at the airport were said to have killed 31 fighters from both sides. Haftar still has some fighter jets under his control which attacked bases of the Islamists. However, one of his jets had a spectacular crash in Tobruk as shown on the enclosed video. In the Benghazi fighting Haftar was reported to have lost 20 fighters while the Islamist lost 11. Three dozen were reported wounded in all.
Back in May General Haftar launched his Operation Dignity with an attack on two Islamist bases in Benghazi. His allies from the Zintan brigade then attacked the parliament in Tripoli burned it and kidnapped a number of Islamist legislators and officials. At the time the government called the move an attempt coup. Now there appears to be a real coup carried out by the very Islamist militias he set out to destroy. There were several night air attacks launched from abroad on Islamist militias in Tripoli. Haftar claimed that these attacks were a joint operation with the international community. The US claims the attacks were by planes from the UAE with the use of bases in Egypt. They did nothing to stop the takeover of Tripoli. I would not be surprised if there were military intervention from outside Libya, probably from Egypt.
On the other hand, there are reports that the situation in Tripoli is now much calmer. Bishop Giovanni Martinelli, Vicar Apostolic of Tripoli said:
“The situation, to a certain extent, is under control, there is more serenity and calm than just a few days ago, and we no longer hear the explosion of bombs. Let us hope that with the grace of God the situation may remain as it is...So far, as a Christian community, we have had no trouble. Our people, although few in numbers, come to church, we are still able to experience the joy of coming together. Next Friday we will celebrate the feast of Saint Teresa of Calcutta and we expect the faithful in large numbers.” “Please continue to pray for Libya, that we may find peace once again."
The highest spiritual leader in Libya Grand Mufti Sheikh Al-Ghariani is said to have promoted the Islamist takeover of Tripoli through broadcasts from a TV station in the UK. He is said to have urged Libya Dawn to take a "firm hand" to assert control in city. The Guardian headline appears to me both sensational and misleading:
Libya's spiritual leader leaves UK after directing Islamist takeover of Tripoli.While Al-Ghariani may have urged on the Libyan Dawn action it seems unlikely he took any part in directing the takeover. Al-Ghariani left the UK after the takeover and traveled to Qatar and Turkey. Both countries support Islamist groups.
The Libyan Dawn certainly have attempted to punish government supporters as they took control. The newspaper Libya Herald reported 280 arson attacks. The former caretaker prime minister Abdullah Al-Thinni has fled after an arson attack on his villa.
The new Libyan parliament meeting in Tobruk resigned after they lost control of government ministries in Tripoli. They asked Al-Thinni to form a new government. However, Al-Thinni is obviously in no situation in which he can form a new government. However, the Islamists called a meeting of General National Congress and appointed their own prime minister who they charged with forming a new government. Reports about the situation in Tripoli vary. Libya's official news agency claimed that calm had returned to Tripoli. Some banks were reopening as well as shops and bakeries. Traffic was picking up and there were long lines at gas stations. Some families who had fled from the fighting had returned.
The Guardian had a much less rosy narrative:
Attacks and looting have broken out across the city with the interior and electricity ministries and the prime minister's office ransacked. One woman tweeted returning home to the plush seafront district of Regatta to find it smashed and her property gone.There may be a degree of truth to both narratives. Areas where Libya Dawn supporters live are relatively peaceful. The Guardian itself notes:
Tripoli is these days a tale of two cities. While fear stalks the western suburbs, something approaching normality has returned to eastern districts, home to many Dawn supporters.The Grand Mufti called upon Libya Dawn units not to engage in looting, a demand that seems to have been ignored in some cases. The GNC appointed prime minister Al Hasi claims to support law and order saying:
"We reject extremism and terrorism. I am not with a specific group, party, operation or city but stand for a government for all Libyans."
There are a number of reports that Islamist militias control a dozen or so commercial jetliners. Some analysts fear that some of these aircraft may be used in attacks on the anniversary of 9/11. The Islamists still control Benghazi as well as Tripoli except for an airport on the outskirts controlled by Haftar.
On Tuesday, clashes between the Benghazi Revolutionary Shura Council an umbrella group of Islamist militias and Haftar forces at the airport were said to have killed 31 fighters from both sides. Haftar still has some fighter jets under his control which attacked bases of the Islamists. However, one of his jets had a spectacular crash in Tobruk as shown on the enclosed video. In the Benghazi fighting Haftar was reported to have lost 20 fighters while the Islamist lost 11. Three dozen were reported wounded in all.
Back in May General Haftar launched his Operation Dignity with an attack on two Islamist bases in Benghazi. His allies from the Zintan brigade then attacked the parliament in Tripoli burned it and kidnapped a number of Islamist legislators and officials. At the time the government called the move an attempt coup. Now there appears to be a real coup carried out by the very Islamist militias he set out to destroy. There were several night air attacks launched from abroad on Islamist militias in Tripoli. Haftar claimed that these attacks were a joint operation with the international community. The US claims the attacks were by planes from the UAE with the use of bases in Egypt. They did nothing to stop the takeover of Tripoli. I would not be surprised if there were military intervention from outside Libya, probably from Egypt.
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