In Libya Benghazi Defence Brigades agree to disband

The Benghazi Defence Brigades (BDB) has offered to dissolve itself and integrate some members into a legitimate army of the UN-brokered Government of National Accord (GNA). The group claims the move is to save Libya from further bloodshed.

The BDB was formed in June of 2016 to protect the Benghazi Shura Council from the Libyan National Army forces of Khalifa Haftar. Haftar has retaken almost all of Benghazi which at one time was mostly occupied by the Council. The BDB would have liked to retake Benghazi and allow those displaced to return. The Brigades have often clashed with Haftar forces, including in two oil ports that with others they wrested from Haftar's control for a short period. After being ousted they clashed with forces loyal to Haftar in the southern Al-Jufra area. Some BDB members were involved in the GNA offensive against the Islamic State in Sirte. Not long ago, they were headquartered along with GNA-loyal forces at the Al-Jufra air base. However, the entire area is now under control of Haftar forces and both the BDB and the Third Force of the GNA retreated.

The BDB maintains it retreated to avoid further bloodshed and not take the battle to peaceful areas of Libya. More likely the BDB faced another defeat and the GNA seems to have allowed Haftar to advance after the GNA dismissed its defense minister Al-Bargathi subsequent to an unauthorized attack on an air base occupied by Haftar. The attack killed many and was described by some as a war crime. After this, it seems that the GNA gave up the entire Al-Jufra area to Haftar without a fight.

The BDB claimed that it was not a terrorist organization and that it had no ideological or political aim. The group said that a number of BDB members were ready to enlist in the Libyan army (GNA) and help build military institutions. No doubt the members will still be implacable foes of Haftar. The group insisted that its members still had the right to return to the city of Benghazi. The BDB statement said that it was forwarding their intention to dissolve to concerned state authorities for consideration. The BDB was placed on a terror list by Saudi Arabia,. UAE, and Bahrain. The Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) also put out a list that included the head of the High State Council of the GNA as well as the BDB.

In reply to the list, the BDB issued their own. Surprisingly Khalifa Haftar is not on the BDB list but some associated with him are including the president of the HoR Ageela Saleh and the PM of the HoR government Abdullah Thinni. There are eleven names in all.

Benghazi Defence Brigades seize two oil ports in Libya

(March 3)Reuters reports that the Benghazi Defence Brigades (BDB) a number of miliita groups opposed to Haftar and supporters of the few remnants of the Benghazi Shura Council left in Benghazi have entered two major oil ports in the Libyan Oil Crescent.

Eastern commander Marshall Khalifa Haftar had captured four major ports in the Crescent back in September last year from the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) that operated them then. He agreed to let the National Oil Company run the ports and export oil. No doubt there is some agreement about splitting the revenue but the press never talks about it. Haftar does not recognize the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) but the rival House of Representatives (HoR) government.

The fighting could interrupt attempts to revive Libyan oil production. The terminals said to be under attack Es Sider and Ras Lanuf are two of Libya's largest with total combined capacity about 600,000 barrels a day. Reuters said that the extent to which the BDB had gained control of the two ports was not clear. Several earlier attacks by the BDB and other groups were unsuccessful. While the LNA claimed the ports were well secured the BDB launched a three-pronged attack that broke through defenses apparently. An attack on a third port Brega was thwarted using airstrikes. The LNA apparently withdrew men and equipment from around Es Sider and Ras Lanuf in order to avoid a firefight and damaging terminals according to LNA spokesperson Ahmed al-Mismari.

According to port engineers and residents the BDB entered both ports after their attack. The BDB has posted photos of fighters at the nearby Ras Lanuf air strip. Although the LNA later said it had retaken control this has not been confirmed. There have been many tweets about what is happening some of them contradictory. A medical source claimed that at least nine men loyal to the Libyan National Army of Haftar were killed and 8 wounded in the fighting. Each side accuses the other of using mercenaries in the clashes. Some easterners also think the BDB is supported by the GNA although the Presidency Council(PC) of the GNA has condemned the raids and claims to have nothing to do with them.

The PC claimed that it had not instructed any force to move toward the area of the ports and said: “We announce that we don’t have any kind of relationship with the armed escalation that happened today in the oil crescent area...The PC reaffirms that oil is the only income for all Libyans and must stay aside from any kind of struggle”. It also said the attacks sought to destabilize reconciliation efforts.

While Libya's oil output has more than doubled from early last year to about 700,000 barrels a day this is still far below the 1.6 million barrels per day before the 2011 revolution. Tankers had been loading at Es Sider since last December. The National Oil Company (NOC) has been urging foreign firms to return to Libya and invest in the oil and gas sector. Attacks on the oil ports will make investors think twice before investing because of the security situation. The NOC hopes to have production back to 1.2 million barrels per day by later this year.

According to the Libya Herald, the LNA spokesperson admitted that it had lost control of part of Ras Lanauf including the hospital. However, LNA sources denied that Es Sider was under control of the BDB in spite of a number of reports that the LNA had pulled back from the port.

The Libya Observer reports that the BDB took control of the Ras Lanuf Airport, as well as the towns of Ben Jawad and Nofaliya . Sources from BDB also claimed that Dignity Operation (Haftar's LNA forces) launched 12 airstrikes on the BDB but failed to halt their advance. Although the BDB call their operation "Return to Benghazi" they are still about 230 kilometers west of Benghazi. It seems unlikely that they can advance to the city without being decimated. The Observer claims there were demonstrations in support of the DBD in Misrata and Tripoli.

Libya's Grand Mufti Sadiq Al-Gharyani has long supported the BDB and said that victory was looming and called on residents in east Libya to join the BDB to liberate Benghazi from Haftar and the Dignity Operation. Other groups such as the Libyan Elders' Council and the Tajoura elders also praised the operation. However, as mentioned the GNA condemned the attacks and denied any links to them. The Defense Ministry said as well if both parties refused to comply with a call for a cease fire it would send a force to the region itself. I expect this is just bluff. The GNA cannot even dislodge attempted coup leader Ghwell from his headquarters in the Rixos hotel complex in Tripoli. It would be wise not to get involved with the LNA or BDB.

There are many tweets on the issue often in disagreement. One tweet claims: "BDB will never be able to hold the oil crescent area. Just not possible. Not military & not in terms of popular support base. #Libya" Another tweet replied: "@Eljarh Mohamed hold your horses, u were tweeting all the day unconfirmed/wrong news, not clear yet 4:51 PM - 3 Mar 2017" We should know better tomorrow how things are shaping up. Personally I am surprised that the BDB was able to get as far as it has as other attacks have failed miserably.

Libyan Field Marshal Haftar's forces launch air strikes agianst opponents

Air strikes were carried out by forces loyal to Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar associated with the eastern-based House of Representatives (HoR) government a rival to the UN-supported Government of National Accord(GNA) based in the west in Tripoli.

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Ahmed al-Mismari, a spokesperson for Haftar's Libyan National Army said the strikes were against a camp of LNA opponents, the Benghazi Defence Brigades (BDB) in the central Jufra region. The BDB are a radical Islamist militia who are opponents of Haftar and have clashed with Haftar's forces before. Recently, they unsuccessfully attempted to take the Oil Crescent Oil ports from Haftar who had captured them from another opponent Ibrahim Jadhran, former head of the Petroleum Facilities Guard(PFG) in the east. Two earlier counter-attacks also failed. Haftar's Operation Dignity started in May 2014 was meant to clear Islamist militias opposed to him from Libya. Haftar has even threatened to liberate Tripoli by attacking his Islamist militia opponents there. So far there has been no attempt to actually enter Tripoli. Any attempt to do so could unite those opposed to him who are presently divided between those who support the coup attempt of the General National Congress(GNC) and former Salvation government and those who support the GNA.

Al-Mismari claimed: "This was a pre-emptive strike against militias that are mobilising for an attack against the Libyan army." Local media sites have shown thick smoke rising from the oasis town of Hun where the attack took place. The BDB has made no statement on the attack and has reported no casualties as yet.

The Libya Observer gives a more detailed account of the airstrikes quoting the Misrata Military Council as saying that the attacks were against the 9-19 Brigade in Hun town, Al-Jufra. The Council said that there were injuries and material damage as a result of the raids. The Council said: “The brigade that was targeted in Hun is part of Al-Bunyan Al-Marsoos and part of the war against IS terror groups in Sirte. It had sacrificed many of its fighters in the war on IS radicals." The Council said that at the right time and place it would strongly react to the attacks and warned the LNA forces of doing anything that could destabilize the country. Unlike other sources, the Observer does not describe the units as part of the BDB.

The media office of Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous or BAM, also condemned the bombing. BAM is the Operations Room that ran the Sirte offensive that just recently completed the recapture of Sirte from the Islamic State. Haftar has been dismissive of the operation which has seen hundreds of BAM forces killed and thousands wounded. A Haftar official said:The Chief of staff of Dignity Operation militia groups Abdul-Razzaq Nadouri has denied the previous control of ISIS group of Libya's Sirte, indicating the presence of the radical group in the coastal city was drama....." In fact, there was no ISIS group in Sirte," he told UAE-funded Libya Channel.

He claimed that all Misrata forces had left Sirte and handed it over to Ansar Sharia group, which is in full control of the city now, according to him.Although, Haftar had at one time announced an operation to liberate Sirte, he ended up not doing so and instead took control of a number of oil fields. One wonders who killed and wounded so many BAM forces if there were no Islamic State fighters in Sirte.

Although the 9-19 brigade was involved in the Sirte offensive, the GNA has not come to their defense or denounced the airstrikes against them. The GNA has denied any involvement in the recent failed counter-attack against the oil ports. The Libya Herald also reports on the airstrikes. The article claims the attacks were on the Tagrift base, a former police headquarters, located in Hun, about three hours drive from oil fields controlled by the LNA. The 9-19 brigade is described as being one of the Benghazi Defence Brigades by LNA spokesperson Ahmed Mismari. Mismari also said that soon there will be an endorsement for the LNA to enter Tripoli "to protect civilians". He did not say who would endorse an attack on Tripoli. So far the LNA allies, the Zintan Brigades have refused to agree to join in a military action against Tripoli.

The LNA has warned of impending attacks against the eastern oilfields. However, the LNA has also warned that it will engage in pre-emptive action. Omar Laswad from Zintan, a boycotting member of the GNA Presidency Council warned that an attack was being planned against the eastern oil terminals now controlled by Haftar. According to the Libya Herald:The BDB are supported by the proposed Defense Minister of the GNA Mahdi Bargathi and are deemed loyal to the Grand Mufti Sadeq Ghariani. Ibrahim Jadran as well as PC member Mijibri are also believed to be in support of the BDB.Note that some claims in Libyan media may be disputed by one side or the other in the conflict. What seems clear though is that there could be a dangerous escalation of the Libyan conflict if Haftar carries through with his threat to try to occupy Tripoli.