GNA Libyan government forces take air base from warlord Haftar's Forces

(May 19)The internationally-recognized Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) has captured the al-Wattiya airbase from Khalifa Haftar's forces the so-called Libyan National Army (LNA)

A major loss for Haftar 

  The base is huge and was key in launching LNA attacks on adjacent areas. It is one of the last key holdings the LNA had in the area as the GNA forces had dislodged the LNA from many towns along the coast west of Tripoli. Although there is still fighting in the area images show that the GNA controls the base itself. Although there are still LNA troops within shelling distance of Tripoli many of the LNA supply lines are now cut. Eventually the LNA area of control could be reduced to the east of the country if GNA successes continue. Although some backers of Haftar such as the UAE increased supplies they have so far not turned the tide against the GNA which is being helped by Turkey whose drone have been very effective in destroying LNA equipment including air defense systems sent from Russia. The al-Wattiya base had been under siege by GNA forces for about a week. Fayez al-Sarraj the head of the GNA said in a statement: "We proudly announce the liberation of Al-Watiya base," 140 kilometres (90 miles) southwest of Tripoli..Today's success is not the end of the battle but it brings us closer than ever to victory when all cities and regions will be liberated and the tyrannical bid threatening democracy (is) crushed."  

The attack Prior to the attack GNA forces had pounded the base from the air using drones provided by Turkey. They also bombarded the nearby town of Tarhuna. Analyst Hamish Kinnear said: "Once again, the GNA's advances were enabled by extensive Turkish military support." The drones were said to be supplied via the UAE. The GNA commander Mohamad Gammoudi claimed that the final attack on the base was launched at dawn on Monday with air support. The base was surrounded on three fronts. Gammoudi said his forces met little resistance except from a few armored vehicles which tried to slow his advance to allow Haftar forces to safely retreat. The base had been occupied by the LNA since 2014. Military forces claim that all Haftar's aircraft have now been destroyed in the battle fro Tripoli. This will place his troops at a distinct disadvantage as fighting continues.

Paris meeting between two Libyan leaders results in an agreement

(July 26) In a joint press conference in the suburbs of Paris, Faiez Serraj, head of the UN-brokered Government of National Accord (GNA) and Khalifa Haftar, commander of the armed forces of the rival eastern-based government announced an agreement on ten points.

The meeting was held under the auspices of French President Emmanuel Macron. The agreement includes a ceasefire across Libya. At present there are no ongoing clashes between troops loyal to the GNA and those loyal to Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA). There were clashes earlier but the GNA forces ended up giving up territory in the Al Jufra area to forces loyal to the LNA. Perhaps, the ceasefire will ensure that Haftar does not advance into Sirte or Tripoli but he will no doubt continue with an attack on Derna as he classifies those in control of the city as terrorists. If there is any strong opposition to Haftar among militia loyal to the GNA, Haftar could also clash with them on the grounds they are terrorists.

The two also agreed that there should be elections next Spring. There is no mention of a new constitution or of the work being done already on the constitution. After a tripartite meeting with Serraj, Haftar, and Macron, the new UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame joined the talks. The statement also said that there were no military solutions to Libya's problems but political solutions through national reconciliation that includes all parties. Military power is not to be used by any party except to fight terrorism. This is a large exception as Haftar typically classifies any group that is strongly opposed to him as terrorist.

The statement also calls for releasing fighters of militia and withdrawing weapons and that both parties should allow fighters who wish to join the official forces of the Libyan state to do so. But what forces are those? There is at present no unified government or armed forces as envisioned under the Libyan Political Agreement signed in Skhirat in December of 2015. How are militia to be disarmed and disbanded? The statement refers to the LPA but the LPA assumes that there will be one unified army. The statement says: "We are working on a strategy for security in Libya that will see all current security and military units joined under one body to combat illegal immigration, human trafficking and other violations via Libya's borders." Just how are the military units to be joined under one body? No mention of how that is to be done. No mention of Haftar's role in all this.

The statement ends by calling on the UN Security Council to support the agreements and have the new UN envoy Ghassam Salame organize the talks needed to rally the parties around the new process. For some reason, the statement was not signed by either Serraj or Haftar. The Libya Herald has an extensive report on the meeting along with the text of the final statement.

The agreement also said that the two would put the LPA into full operation. No mention that Haftar rejects the LPA as it is since it makes the PC act as commander in chief of the armed forces. Haftar has constantly tried to block the progress of the LPA and the GNA government. The HoR has twice rejected the GNA. Haftar has also said a number of times that he believes there is a military solution to the crisis. Indeed Haftar has been successful militarily in taking total control of Benghazi. He has also taken over oil ports in the oil crescent and as well has made recent advances in the Al Jufra area. He is well placed to insist on his demands. While the statement says that the House of Representatives (HoR) and the High State Council(HSC) of the GNA would play a role in the political dialogue there was no deadline set for suggested amendments to the LPA to be presented and no mention of the HoR voting on the amended LPA and GNA as required under the present terms of the GNA.

The Herald notes: "So far, despite the unlikelihood of it appealing to certain members of the HoR such as the National Sovereignty Bloc or HoR president Ageela Saleh, the meeting and agreement have drawn initial tentative approval from a number of HoR member and those of the State Council." There has been no official statement from either the HoR or the PC or HSC. However, the Justice and Construction Party associated with the Muslim Brotherhood rejected the agreement saying: “Holding meetings under the auspices of individual states is a deviation from the political track of the political agreement and a mix-up of it. Such meetings open the way for the agendas of those states to favor one side over the other and to deepen the division and crisis”

Al Jazeera also reports on the meeting. The Al Jazeera correspondent noted: "There are no guarantees of success. Serraj and Haftar still have to sell the deal to the various political factions that have not been directly involved in the talks here, which is going to be a tall order."

The meeting appears to be a way around problems associated with the LPA. The UN together with France are attempting to find another way to satisfy Hafar and create a unified government. One would think that the HoR government, its PM Al Thanni, and speaker Ageelah Saleh would be incensed that they were not the ones to negotiate with Serraj who represents the GNA but a military commander Khalifa Haftar. It simply shows who the international community thinks is boss. Apparently this is supposed to be a legitimate match-up. Anything is legitimate that the powerful think is so. The UN and foreign powers are once again settings things up with the hope that Libya will develop in the way that they wish. Libyans may not go along with these plans and conflicts may break out anew.

Eastern Libya commander Haftar takes full control of city of Benghazi

Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) the armed forces of the eastern-based House of Representatives (HoR) government claimed that his forces had taken full control of Libya's second largest city Benghazi.

The announcement came after a three-year Operation Dignity campaign launched back in May of 2014 to free Benghazi and indeed all of Libya from his Islamist opponents whom he describes as terrorists. They include some of the militia groups backing the UN-brokered Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli. Neither the HoR government nor Haftar recognize the GNA. As part of the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) the HoR is to vote confidence in the GNA. It would then become the legislature of the GNA and there would be one Libya government instead of the two competing governments as there are now.

The HoR has twice failed to vote confidence in the GNA, the last time on August 22, 2016. There is supposed to be a dialogue to amend the LPA but no meetings have been held or are even scheduled. Those loyal to Haftar demand that a section of the LPA that gives the Presidential Council (PC) the powers of commander of the Libyan National Army be removed among other changes. At present, there appears to be no agreement in sight.

Haftar appeared on TV in a fancy white uniform and said: "Your armed forces declare to you the liberation of Benghazi from terrorism, a full liberation and a victory of dignity. Benghazi has entered into a new era of safety and peace." While no longer holding territory in the city, militants will probably continue a campaign of guerrilla tactics launching isolated attacks in an attempt to create instability and show they are still present. Parts of Benghazi have been completely ruined by constant shelling and air attacks. The LNA claims to have lost more than 5,000 men over the course of the battle.

The Haftar victory can only increase his power in the east and in Libya as a whole. Haftar not only controls the oil ports in the Oil Crescent area of Libya but also has recently successfully taken over areas in the Al Jufra region in the south with forces loyal to the GNA and also the Benghazi Defense Brigades virtually giving up the area without a fight. He has threatened to invade Tripoli several times. In the latest he gives the GNA until December to meet his political demands or he says he will act militarily. The GNA and many analysts seem to make little comment on these threats. Haftar has long had the strong support of Egypt and the UAE and more recently from Russia. While there are still some expressions of support for the GNA from some western governments it seems to be mostly formal and the GNA appears to be growing weaker all the time in relationship to the power of the HoR and Haftar. I note that for some time now the HoR is often referred to as the interim government and internationally recognized legislature. This makes no sense. The HoR is the legislature of a rival unrecognized HoR government. Only when the HoR votes confidence in the GNA does it become a legislature of the GNA recognized by the UN and most countries. The fact that mainstream media and commentators are playing such games shows that there is a move towards legitimizing Haftar and his supporting HoR government. This while the head of the HoR Ageelah Saleh is under sanction.

The victory was welcomed by many as attested by many tweets.One tweet claims: "..It's almost midnight in #Benghazi and the streets are still full of people. Celebrations are in very corner of the city2:38 PM - 5 Jul 2017" One tweet reports pro-militant media as claiming that they still hold some small area in Benghazi: "In Libya, Al-Fath, pro-BRSC media, denies the full control of Al-Sabri and Sidi Khraibish areas in Benghazi by the LNA troops. 3:17 PM - 5 Jul 2017" The BRSC no doubt stands for Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council that at one time controlled most of Benghazi.

Faiez Serraj, head of the GNA PC did not mention Haftar but congratulated "the Libyan people, especially our people in Benghazi". This is rather ridiculous since it was Haftar and his forces and his Operation Dignity that finally ousted the Islamists from Benghazi. Serraj simply wants to avoid praising Haftar who is hated by a number of members of his government and no doubt many citizens in Tripoli and Misrata. Abdulrahman Sewehli who is head of the GNA High State Council was highly critical of UK ambassador's Peter Millet's statement on the victory. Millet had welcomed what he called the liberation of Benghazi saying: “Terrorism has no place in Libya. Hope this brings peace, security and prosperity for the people of Benghazi.” Sewehli said that Millet was irresponsible and made himself non grata: “He has given rogue Gen Hafter supporters the go ahead to attack (sorry ‘liberate’) Tripoli and Misrata in their coup attempt”. Sewehli may soon find himself non-grata. The UNSMIL also used similar wording using the term "liberation" and repeating that there was no place for terrorism in Libya. The UNSMIL alos said the victory was a step towards stability and reconciliation in Libya. It is no doubt a step towards Haftar coming closer to his goal of completing his Operation Dignity.

In all the celebration and talk of liberation any actions of Haftar that may have approached being if not actually be war crimes appear to be simply ignored. The Libya Observer reports that Bunyan Al Marsous (BAM) forces have come under attack near Sirte. Perhaps Haftar will now try to liberate Sirte.

Name of head of Libyan unity government's state council appears on terror list

The Defence and National Security Committee of the eastern-based House of Representatives has issued a terrorism list that includes 75 lawmakers, politicians, military officers, clerics, activists, and journalists.

While not everyone would agree that all on the list are terrorists, they all are foes of the commander of the HoR military the Libyan National Army (LNA) Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. A prominent member of the rival UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) Abdul-Rahman Al-Sawihili who heads the GNA's High Council of State was on the list. The Libya Observer describes Sawihili as an advocate of reconciliation with the HoR. Some time ago Sawihili met with the head of the HoR Ageela Saleh in Rome, a supposedly breakthrough meeting, but it appears that any attempt to amend the Libyan Political Agreement may be in jeopardy as the HoR can hardly negotiate with anyone they deem a terrorist one would think. Sawihili is identified as one of the commanders of the Qatar-funded Libya Dawn Operation.

The terror list includes 9 entities including several Shura Councils, Alnabaa/Tanasuh TVs, Libya Shield Forces, and also senior leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, and Libyan Fighting Group. The Muslim Brotherhood support the GNA and are represented on its Presidential Council. Those on the list are all said to have links to Qatar. The Committee urged the foreign ministry of the HoR to forward the list to KSA, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain to to add to their own list of terrorists.

Tensions have been further aggravated by an HoR threat to arrest the GNA education minister Olman Abdul Jalil if he ventured into territory controlled by the HoR. The situation is further complicated by the reported release of the second son of Gadaffi, Saif. While some groups celebrated the news of Saif's release others condemned the release including authorities in Zintan itself where he had been imprisoned. In other centers such as the southern city of Sebha celebrations were reported.

Spokesperson for Khalifa Haftar and his Dignity Operation, Ahmed al-Mismari said on TV that Said is now free as per the HoR amnesty law:"He is outside Zintan city now and he can take part in any political process if no legal hindrances existed to obstruct that." A recent tweetremarks: "The much talked about Libya's HoR amnesty law excludes murder and embezzlement of public funds". The issue of Saif's release is further discussed on the appended video..

Khalifa Haftar, eastern commander, captures Al Jufra desert area from unity government

Eastern commander's forces capture the Jufra area including a key airbase as opposing factions including those associated with the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) withdrew.

This development leaves the eastern commander Khalifa Haftar and forces loyal to his Libyan National Army in control of the south central desert area of Al-Jufra and also the Sebha region according to Reuters. Haftar does not recognize the GNA and many militia who support it he regards as his enemies, although he has recently praised some Tripoli militias who drove out some of Haftar's strongest opponents from Tripoli. He may be attempting to divide militias supporting the GNA. Reuters suggests that taking Sebha and Al Jufra areas may be a key step in the LNA's stated goal of moving to Tripoli. Haftar may have his sights on other towns such as Bani Walid and the city of Misrata before attempting to take Tripoli. An LNA spokesperson has said that LNA forces will gradually move towards Bani Walid that is almost 350 km (215 miles) northwest of the Jufra area. The Jufra area is about 500 kilometers (300 miles) southwest of Benghazi and around the same distance southeast from the capital in the west of Tripoli. As all this is going on, Martin Kobler the UN envoy to Libya, and others are still talking about a political solution and Kobler promises a dialogue soon. By the time the dialogue actually gets underway, Haftar may be close to achieving a military solution so the GNA will be forced to surrender to his demands. About a month ago, Haftar met with Faiez Serraj of the GNA and the two agreed to calm tensions and raised hopes for a political deal. There was no common statement or any actual deals signed. Since than Haftar has continued to try to carry out a military solution.

For the second time opponents of the LNA have simply retreated without a fight. Mohamed al-Afirs, an LNA spokesperson said that they found the Al Jufra base deserted when they entered. The Benghazi Defense Brigades have apparently withdrawn towards the city of Misrata. The base was captured after heavy air strikes. Egypt has been helping Haftar both in the eastern city of Derna occupied by Islamist opponents and in the Jufra region.

Fouad Rashid an official in the area said: "Dignity Operation forces entered Jufra airbase without armed clashes." Sources in another town Hun claimed that Haftar-loyal forces had the town under control with a number of military vehicles seen on the town roads and at entrances. The LNA has also seized the town of Waddan but after clashes with BDB fighters causing several deaths. Prior to the LNA obtaining control there had been 18 air raids on both civilian and miitary locations in the Al Jufra area.

A spokesperson for the LNA Ahmed al-Mismari claimed that the army leadership had no politiical ambitions but were simply aiming to uproot terrorism in the region. Haftar always uses fighting terrorism as his rationale for gaining ground but is in effect gaining leverage for a political negotiation should there ever actually be one. Mismari also confirmed that LNA forces would move towards Bani Walid and then westward. He confirmed that Egyptian air attacks on Derna had been coordinated with the army. Earlier the LNA had said it would lift the siege of Derna for Ramadan. The GNA earlier withdrew its forces from the headquarters of the Third Force the Tamenhint Air Base. Why would the GNA help the LNA and weaken its own position prior to political negotiations?

Easterm commander Haftar gains ground in Libya with help of Egypt

(June 2) According to a report in Al Jazeera, forces loyal to eastern commander Marshal Khalifa Haftar launched attacks almost simultaneously against forces associated with the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).

The attacks happened just hours after unidentified jets bombed GNA-held areas. Haftar does not recognize the GNA government. His forces, the Libyan National Army(LNA) are associated with the rival House of Representatives(HoR) government. The Bunyan al-Marsous(BAM) forces who who were involved in the clashes earlier captured Sirte from the Islamic State. BAM forces, who support the GNA, said they were attacked on Friday both by Haftar and by Islamic State(IS) forces in the central district of Al Jufra which is south of Sirte. While IS has no longer control over major centers they still exist in a number of areas in Libya. Al Jazeera's reporter Mahmoud Abdelwahed said from Tripoli the capital: "Fresh fighting has erupted between forces loyal to renegade commander Khalifa Haftar and forces loyal to the UN-backed GNA, helped by the Benghazi Defence Brigades in the area of al-Jufra in the central desert of Libya." He said warplanes, believed to be Egyptian, hit 14 locations in Jufra overnight including several residential areas and the Jufra air base used by UN-backed GNA forces. Abdelwahed said the raids caused heavy material damage but there were no reports of casualties. The Jufra area is about 400km to the south of Sirte.

Egyptian president Abdel el-Sisi said on Friday that he had directed strikes against what he called "terrorist camps". On television he said that states that sponsored terrorism would be punished. Apparently this includes the UN-sponsored GNA. Do not expect that the GNA or the UN will do anything other than perhaps let fly some moral put downs and requests that Haftar stop all his successful military endeavours. El-Sisi said: "Egypt will never hesitate to strike terror camps anywhere ... if it plans attacking Egypt whether inside or outside the country." Egypt's original attacks were made on the city of Derna which has been under siege by Haftar for ages. The city is ruled by a Shura Council that is anti-Haftar. The group was instrumental in driving the Islamic State (IS) out of Derna some time ago. El-Sisi maintains that the armed men who carried out an attack in Egypt that killed 29 Coptic Christians and wounded many more were trained in camps in Derna. This is a highly unlikely story. More likely he used the terror attack to help out his friend Haftar while appearing to do something to stop terror attacks. The reports of clashes with the Islamic State have yet to be confirmed in that other reports do not mention it.

The Libya Observer makes no mention of any clashes with the IS but reports clashes between local gunmen and fighters from the Benghazi Defense Brigades (BDB) in the town of Waddan in the Al-Jufra region killed seven gunmen and five BDB fighters. Locals report that the BDB fighters were on the their way to the nearby Al-Jufra airbase after they had been ambushed by gunmen in Waddan who were loyal to Khalifa Haftar's Dignity Operation meant to clear Libya of his Islamist opponents. It began in May of 2014. Forces loyal to Haftar had attempted earlier in the day to advance into Al-Jufra airbase after a night of intense aerial bombardment. They were repelled by BDB fights on the road between Waddan and Zillah another town in the Al Jufra area where Haftar forces are stationed. After the clashes Haftar forces moved into Waddan while the BDB fighters withdrew into the Al-Jufra air base. There is no city of al Jufra as some tweets and reports suggest. It is an area in central Libya south of Sirte with five main towns Waddan, Zillah, Hun the capital, Sawknahan and Al-Fuqaha as well as the airbase. Zillah and Waddan are under control of forces loyal to Haftar.

There are many tweets describing the situation. One tweet claims: "Libyan Army regains control over Widdan & Sokana South of #Libya after heavy clashes with BDB & Mercenaries from Chad." Another tweet remarks: "LNA is gaining grounds in South Libya. HoR will be taking a much better seat at any future negotiations table" Indeed and the GNA appears to be making no effort to reinforce the BDB forces who appear to be providing the only resistance to Haftar. A third tweet notes: "Controlling Jufra is key to holding the rest of the southern region, where 80% of Libya's oil is produced. GNA well choke over this" The actions of the GNA are hard to decipher. They already gave up without a fight the Tamenhent airbase a key base in the south.

While numerous countries especially in the west support the GNA, none of them are bringing any complaints before the UN security council to condemn Egypt's air strikes and giving support to Haftar's military advances in Libya. Instead Egypt will ask for a meeting of the Council at which it will defend its bombings. Now that's chutzpah as the Israelis would put it. A tweet claims: "#Egypt organizes a June 27 UN security council meeting on combating terrorism in #Libya"

Eastern commander Haftar bombs a number of sites in south central area of Libya

(May 25) In response to the Third Force associated with the Libyan Government of National Accord's(GNA) attack on the Brak Al-Shali air base, forces of Marshal Khalifa Haftar have been bombing a number of sites in the south.

The earlier attack was launched by the Third Force in alliance with others on the Al-Shati base which is 37 miles northwest of the Tamanhent base the headquarters of the Third Force. The mayor of Brak Al-Shati claimed that 95 bodies had been bought to the hospital there although the Libyan National Army claimed that as many as 141 people had been killed. The attackers did not try to hold the base. The attack was widely condemned with many accusations of war crimes including throats being slit. The Government of National Accord claimed that it had not ordered the attack and suspended its defense minister and also the head of the Third Guard.

It now appears that the Third Force has voluntarily left its headquarters at the Tamanhent base and it has been taken over by forces loyal to Haftar, the eastern commander: "Forces loyal to the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) posted videos and pictures showing them driving into Tamanhent air base, which had previously been controlled by the Third Force, early in the morning. Tamanhent appeared to be empty as LNA forces entered." This takeover extends the reach of Haftar's Libyan National Army into the central desert region. Tamanhet is about 20 miles northeast of the major southern city of Sabha. There are reports that the Third Force has also withdrawn from Sharara oil field.

In contrast to the Third Guard retreat, Haftar's air forces have carried out a series of air strikes in the Jufra region about 175 miles northeast of Sabha where GNA forces are still in control. The GNA condemned the strikes claiming they intimidated and injured innocent citizens in a region it claimed was neutral between the two rivals:"We call for an immediate end to this bombing in order to preserve civil peace and to prevent bloodshed." So while Haftar expands his reach using military might, the GNA has its forces retreat and uses a mild verbal onslaught as a counter-attack.

An article in the Libya Observer claims that the withdrawal from Tamanhent was aimed at reducing tensions in the south after the attack on the Brak Al-Shati airbase. The Third Force withdrew to the Al Jufra district according to local sources. A source from the Third Force said: “We decided to withdraw to save blood after Dignity Operation militias’ incitement of civilians to attack the Third Force.” Dignity Operation is the name of a military operation started back in May of 2014 to clear Libya of Islamist opponents of Haftar whom he consider terrorists. This includes many loyal to the GNA. Media outlets associated with the Dignity Operation posted a video of Mohamed Ben Nayal commander of Haftar's southern forces inside the base.

The Mayor of Al-Jufra Municipality, Emad Rasheed was angered at the Dignity Operation bombing campaign: “Dignity Operation jet fighters have continuously bombed the district indiscriminately, hitting civilian homes and warehouses, killing civilians and livestock. We have never built any military bases in our district and any buildings that are here are the ones we inherited from the previous regime, even those buildings are but unfinished camps that are not occupied by any forces. What is happening in Al-Jufra over the past days breaks all national and international laws, now instead of people struggling with their daily needs without cash, they are dealing with the destruction of a bombing campaign too.” Don't expect anything other than moral condemnation and pleas for Haftar to stop from the UN and international community.

There were bombing attacks by Haftar in other areas such as Hun as well. A tweet claims:" Protesters in Hun gather to call for a stop to air strikes and military operations. #Libya http://alwasat.ly/ar/news/libya/142912/ " Haftar has often claimed that there is a military solution to the political crisis and that he would eventually free Tripoli from militia he sees as opponents. Haftar has not accepted the GNA government or agreed to the terms of the GNA. Recent statements by a member of the House of Representatives whose armed forces Haftar commands, Ali Al-Gaydri claims only a military solution is possible counter to the opinion of the UN envoy Martin Kobler and many others: " We believe only in military institutions and military solutions for the current conflict." Al-Gaydi even said that it would rather use force and kill a million Libyans in order to see two million others living in luxury, repeating that he believed only in military institutions and military solutions to the current conflict.

In the past, Haftar has made equally radical statements as a recent tweet notes: "#Haftar: "we would rather have 6 thousands living w/ dignity, than have 6 million living without dignity", March 2014." GIven Haftar can represent himself as a champion against terrorism and the incompetence of his rival GNA with its Presidency Council, Haftar could soon gain the support of the international community and continue his military battles for a final solution to Libya's crisis.

Head of Libyan Unity government Faiez Serraj meets with opponents

(May 14)Faiez Serraj, head of the Presidential Council of the UN-brokered Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), along with Fathi Majbri the deputy president, had talks in Tunis with a group of House of Representatives (HoR) members mainly from the east.

The Tunis talks focused on possible developments from the meeting Serraj had earlier with the commander of the forces associated with the HoR, the Libyan National Army (LNA), Marshal Khalifa Haftar. The talks were held over a week ago in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The meetings were described by many as positive and a breakthrough although there was no joint statement after the meetings. Separate statements were made by each side emphasizing quite different aspects of a proposed agreement. Nothing has been signed. There were to follow up talks this week. An interesting article analysing the situation can be found here. It emphasizes that there is no deal yet.

Issa-Al-Araibi a member of the group who is from Benghazi said the members told Serraj to hold more meetings with Haftar. Up until now, Al-Araibi has been an opponent of the Presidency Council (PC) and GNA that Serraj heads. The talks followed upon those two days ago at which Serraj head briefed about 50 members of the HoR on his meeting with Haftar. One member of the HoR said he was disappointed that Serraj had flown to Tunis rather than Cairo to meet Serraj. He wanted Haftar to meet Serraj in Cairo. He blamed hard-liners in Tripoli and Misrata for the cancellation of further second round talks scheduled to be held this week in Cairo.

While the details of any agreement still appear unclear, it seems certain that Haftar must be offered a significant role in any new unified government before the HoR will implement the terms of the LPA and vote confidence in the GNA government. There must also be agreement on amending the LPA by at least deleting section 8 that deprives Haftar of leadership of the armed forces of the unified GNA. This is a non-starter with many in the PC and certainly within the State High Council as well. There has been considerable reaction opposed to any such agreement. An important militia group demanded the resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs:A powerful brigade from Tripoli demanded Tuesday Foreign Minister-designate of UN-installed government, Mohamed Sayala, to resign for his recognition of Khalifa Haftar as “the General Commander of the Libyan Army.” Haitem Tajouri-led Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade, which protects HQ of the ministry, said work will be suspended inside the ministry in protest against Sayala’s recognition.

Nevertheless UN Special Envoy, Martin Kobler, expressed his optimism with his usual type of tweet with almost no substance or detailed information: "Very positive mtg w/ PM Serraj in #Tripoli. Discussed recent developments & way fwd. Strong international support for the political process." Another tweet indicates that Haftar is meeting again with Egyptian president Sisi: "Sisi meets Haftar in Cairo today. Egyptian president's office says he 'stressed the need to lift the arms embargo'." Sisi has been a strong supporter of Haftar. Perhaps next week an actual agreement will be signed although any agreement that gives Haftar a significant role in a unified GNA could very well cause an outright war against Haftar.

Cairo meeting fails to come up with solution to Libya crisis

Egyptian government attempts to mediate a peace deal between Presidency Council (PC) leader of the UN-brokered Government of National Accord (GNA) Faiez Serraj and Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) failed.

(February 15) The LNA is the armed forces associated with the rival government to the GNA the Al-Thinni House of Representatives (HoR) government. Haftar refused to meet with Serraj and Serraj flew back to Tripoli from Cairo. Mohamed Samir spokesperson for the Egyptian Army said that the two did agree that there should be parliamentary elections and a presidential election in February of 2018. However, the Libya Herald claims it was told by a source that although Serraj agreed to the proposal, Haftar did not. Ageela Saleh, said only that he would study the idea. Apparently the Egyptian spokesperson was manufacturing fake news!

Serraj and Haftar were supposed to join in a meeting Tuesday that would have been chaired by Egyptian president Abdel el-Sisi. Serraj waited patiently all day in his hotel while Egyptian intelligence officials pressured Haftar to accept a compromise. Obviously they did not succeed. Haftar refused to accept Serraj's plan for a three-man PC rather than the present nine. He also rejected the proposal to have the position of commander-in-chief to be held jointly by the head of the PC, the HoR, and the State Council plus a supreme military council that would include Haftar. Haftar wants to remain head of the armed forces of any new GNA.

Both sides agreed to set up a committee of 15 members each from the HoR and the State Council of the GNA to consider changes to the Libya Political Agreement(LPA). There is no mention of a meeting for the HoR to vote confidence in the GNA as is required by the LPA. Some time ago the UN envoy Martin Kobler insisted that the LPA can be amended only after the HoR accepts it as it is and votes confidence in the GNA. The Herald suggests that the failure could strain relations between Haftar and Egyptian authorities. I doubt that there will be any significant changes in Egypt's support for Haftar as Egypt sees it as in its interest to continue support for him. He also has Russia and the UAE behind him. Haftar has been consistent in his demands and his attitude towards the peace process. He thinks there is a military solution and has been constantly trying to strengthen his power as the GNA appears to weaken and even faces an attempted coup by the PM of the former Salvation Government that so far the GNA has failed to put down.

In an interview with Arabic newspaper, Serraj explained that there was no meeting between himself and Haftar in Cairo because Haftar insisted that Ageela Saleh take part in the talks, but Saleh had refused to meet Serraj. Saleh said: "The intransigence of each party has resulted in the stagnation of a political solution and has increased the suffering of the Libyan people." Saleh is already sanctioned by the US and EU for allegedly blocking a settlement of the Libyan crisis. In my opinion, Saleh simply follows whatever Haftar wants. Nevertheless, Serraj thought that dialogue would eventually find a way out and that he would announce a new way forward in the next few days. At the same time, Serraj said he doubted that any government formed in the present circumstances could gain HoR approval or public confidence. Given this assessment, it is hard to see how there can be any successful way forward.

Haftar and Saleh remain in Cairo in talks with Egyptian authorities. The former ambassador to the UAE and several boycotting members of the HoR have also been involved in talks. Tarek al-Jaroushi a member of the HoR who attended the talks said: "Seraj must return to the legitimacy of (the eastern) parliament if he really is looking for a Government of National Accord that secures the rights of all Libyans." The GNA does recognize the legitimacy of the HoR but it becomes the legislature of the GNA only once it approves the GNA.

The HoR last rejected the GNA on August 22 last year. Almost six months later there seems little progress in having the HoR and its armed forces join with the GNA. It remains to be seen if US president Trump will involve the US in this crisis.

Eastern commander Haftar vows to seize power in Libya

(February 4) According to the London-Based Alhayat newspaper, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar told the French Ambassador, Brigitte Curmi that he is intending to take power in Libya and is not ready to engage in a dialogue with his rivals.

Khalifa Haftar is commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) the armed forces of the House of Representatives (HoR) government. Neither Haftar nor the HoR government recognize the UN-brokered Government of National Accord(GNA). The HoR has yet to vote confidence in the GNA as required by the LIbyan Political Agreement (LPA). Last August 22 it voted against approving the GNA. Ever since, Martin Kobler the UN envoy the Libya and Fayez Serraj head of the Presidency Council have been attempting to find some way to accommodate Haftar and have him join the GNA. However, Haftar wants to remain head of any new Libyan National Army whereas the present LPA gives that power to the Presidency Council(PC). Many of the members of the GNA will not agree to Haftar keeping his role and some demand that he have no role at all. None of the many attempts at getting the HoR and Haftar to accept the GNA have solved this problem so far.

Curmi advised Haftar to sit down with his rivals and not use weapons but he refused. Curmi is said to have told Haftar: "If you use weapons, you will differ with France and the EU and you will fail."

The Observer also reports French sources claim that Egypt wants a solution that favors Haftar and is trying to reach a compromise with Serraj head of the PC. The Libya Observer is very much anti-Haftar. As the Observer mentions Haftar has in effect been trying to seize power from as far back as February 2014 when he appeared on TV to announce what was in effect a coup but it did not work. On the 16th of May 2014, Haftar began his Operation Dignity to rid Libya of Islamic terrorists or at least those who opposed him. These included many of the militias that support the GNA. A few days later his allies attacked and burned the parliament buildings as shown on the appended video. Haftar's operations have received support from the UAE and Egypt and he is now receiving some support from Russia although Russia is also keeping open connections with Serraj and the GNA.

The article in Arabic at Alhayat can be found here. Other sources such as the Libya Herald have yet to report on the interview. A tweet says: #Haftar said to the French Ambassador that he intends to take power in #Libya & he refused to engage in a dialogue with his rivals. According to a twitter exchange a French article gives a differing report. While the Observer is anti-Haftar his remarks conform to his actions. He has recently refused to talk with Serraj according to an article in early January in the Libya Prospect:

The source added that “they were supposed to discuss the possibility of forming a national unity government, ” but Haftar said that talks began with Al-Sarraj two and a half years ago with no concert(sic) results, and the current state of war requires fighting not policy.Haftar refused to meet with Martin Kobler as long ago as May last year. From the very beginning Haftar constantly tried to sabotage the Dialogue process. He was even threatened with sanctions by the EU at one time. He believes there is a military solution to the political crisis but the right time has not come yet. He has threatened to liberate Tripoli. Perhaps he can convince Trump that he, an American and former CIA asset who now is courting Russia, needs a green light to take over control in Libya.

The Observer report just confirms what previous facts have already indicated. However, key characters supporting the GNA such as Kobler and Serraj do not like to talk about the issue. They do not want to make it more difficult for them to accommodate Haftar They fail to realize that their task is not difficult. It is probably impossible.

Islamic State fighters able to flee from some parts of Benghazi Libya

The residents of Benghazi were surprised at the sudden escape of Islamic State and perhaps other militants from the districts of Ganfouda and Al-Sadbri in the city which they had occupied.

Residents had been assured by authorities from Field Marshall Haftar's Libyan National Army and Dignity Operation that the security situation in Benghazi was fully under control. However, his forces have often suffered from attacks. After more than two years of confllict Haftar has insisted that his enemies, the Islamic State and the Benghazi Shura Council are besieged and their complete defeat is imminent. However, the Libya Observer says: "But the escape of an ISIS convoy from Benghazi at the dawn of Thursday has raised several questions on how did they manage to leave the city into the desert without being thwarted despite the presence of several Dignity Operation checkpoints on the way."

The Observer claims that some Dignity Operation media outlets are accusing the Saiga Forces Captain Mahmoud Al-Wirfally, who commands the western front line in Benghazi of coordinating their escape from the two areas. Saiqa has denied the allegation and has called for an investigation into the escape. General Mohammed Al-Manfood Commander of Air Operations said the escape of the IS convoy was a surprise to him saying: “Don’t ask me how did this convoy manage to escape from this siege? There must be strict procedures to identify the facilitators” He said the two areas were under tight siege and anyone trying to escape would be noticed. Colonel Salah Huwaydi confirmed the escape had taken place and that investigations were ongoing. Those who claim there is often coordination between Haftar and IS units see this as another instance where there has been cooperation. In 2015, Islamic militants were able to retreat from Derna and travel 400 kilometers east to Sirte allegedly without interception at Dignity Operation checkpoints although there are varying accounts of what happened.

News reports from Libya are often slanted or represent even false news designed to bolster the case for Haftar, the GNA, or other parties. The anti-Haftar Libya Observer reports that Mohammed Al-Ghasri spokesperson for the Al-Bunyan Al-Marsoos group who drove the IS from Sirte claims information showing coordination between Haftar and the terrorist forces allowing them to escape. Al-Ghasri said: “The Dignity Operation’s spokesman, Ahmed Al-Mismari has spoken with pride when he said that IS terrorists left Benghazi for Bani Walid and his statements are actually not so manly, as his words echo the fact that he was happy to send criminal forces, who explode themselves to kill Libyans, to Bani Walid city.” Al Ghasri said that his group would never allow IS terrorists to obtain a foothold in Bani Walid. Al Ghasri concluded: "Allowing IS militants to pull out from Benghazi is an attempt by Haftar to save his face on the military level as his forces couldn’t bring the battle to an end in a small area like Ganfouda after two years of fighting. Haftar wants to declare an illusionary victory on Benghazi.”

Security forces associated with Haftar were reported fighting terrorists that appear to be some of those who broke out yesterday, east of the town of Ajdabiya. The Libya Herald reports that 21 police and soldiers were killed during the breakout. The breakout is said to have happened during a power blackout that appeared to have been deliberately caused. A GECOL control room engineer was arrested.

Libyan National Army spokesperson, Ahmed Mismari, said that the main terrorist breakout was made by a column of vehicles that traveled south. In the running battle that followed in which aircraft and ground forces were involved all the terrorist trucks were destroyed the last of them just south of Ajdabiya. However, reports since then indicate two soldiers being killed and four wounded in the town of Saunnu east of Ajdabiya. There are conflicting details about two other breakouts. What exactly happened may be difficult to determine but certainly there was some significant breakout from the two areas by the remaining Islamic State fighters and perhaps some other radicals as well.

Eastern commander Haftar's forces attack checkpoint of rival government

( December 29) The Third Force of Misrata loyal to the UN-supported Government of National Accord(GNA) reports it has maintained control of the Gwirat Al-Maal checkpoint that is on the main road north from the southern city of Sebha.

An earlier report by the Libyan National Army(LNA) under the command of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar had claimed that the army had cut the road. The move was thought to be part of a plan to advance on the Tamenhint airbase near Sebha that is still controlled by Misrata forces. The LNA spokesperson's statement said that the checkpoint was under fire by fighters and tanks.

There was no response from the LNA to the Third Force claim that it had halted the LNA attack. The Force said that the attack was led by Mohamed Ben Nayel. Three weeks ago, Nayel took control of the Brak Al-Shatti military base after the Third Force pulled out. The Misratans also withdrew their forces from the center of Sebha much earlier this year, apparently as part of a redeployment to reinforce the Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous forces leading the offensive against the Islamic State in Sirte. Nevertheless, a Third Force spokesperson said that the unit involved at the checkpoint had been sent to protect the south and would continue to do so. The clash was said to have lasted around three hours. No casualty reports have been issued.

The security situation in Sebha itself has been precarious as two main tribes the Alwad Sulaiman and Qaddadfa tribes renewed their feuding, with five deaths last Saturday including two children. At least 15 were injured. Although calm has returned the situation is tense. At the end of November, clashes between the groups saw 20 people killed along with dozens injured.

The Libya Observer quotes Third Force spokesperson Mohammed Gliwan as claiming that his forces are still in full control of the Gwerate Al-Mal checkpoint: “We clashed for some hours with armed groups and then everything remained the same as before under the Third Force’s control.” Gliwan claimed that there were efforts to destabilize the southern region and that the LNA had been putting out false news that they controlled the main road north from Sebha and the Tamnahent airport. Gliwan said that the Third Force defenders had destroyed a military vehicle belonging to the Haftar forces. Gliwan said that the Third Force was still in control of the Tamnahent Airport as well as surrounding towns close to Sebha. He said a state of emergency has been declared in the south to prepare for any further security challenges.

Air forces loyal to Haftar had also attacked the 9-19 Brigade camp in Hun town in the Al Jufra area earlier. This group is apparently part of the Benghazi Defense Brigades according to some sources. There appear to be more clashes between troops loyal to the GNA and those loyal to Haftar and the House of Representatives. A recent tweet reports: #Libya Tobruk government forces move to 65 km from Sirte. This brings Haftar forces close to the GNA forces in control of Sirte. Haftar has already threatened to march on Tripoli.

Although numerous attempts have been made to have Haftar sign on to the GNA so far no plan has been successful. There is however a meeting planned of the HoR on January 9th but no information has yet been released about the agenda. A recent tweet notes: #HoR members calling for an "Important" meeting to take place on the 9th of January in #Tobruk.

Grand Mufti speaks out against abduction and murder of Nadir al-Omrani

Controversial Grand Mufti of Libya Sadik Al-Ghariani has accused Madkhalists, followers of Saudi cleric Rabee Al-Madkhali, of being spies and of acting as assassins on behalf of Arab Gulf countries he did not name.

Al Ghariani also claimed that the Madkhalists were allied to Khalifa Haftar whom he called a war criminal. Field Marshal Haftar is the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) the armed forces of the House of Representatives(HoR) based in the east of Libya. The HoR government is a rival to the UN-backed Government of National Accord(GNA) based in Tripoli.

Al-Ghariani's accusations come after several reports discussed in a recent DJ article in which a man named Haithem Al-Zintani, who claimed to be a follower of Madkhali, confessed on TV to being involved in the kidnapping and murder of the prominent Islamic scholar Sheikh Nadir Al-Omrani. Al-Omrani was a prominent member of Dar Al-lfta (Fatwa House). The sheikh was kidnapped by an unknown armed group back on October 6. However, a recent tweet claims that drivers of the two cars used in the kidnapping have been arrested: "More on the kidnapping & alleged killing of Sheikh Nader Amroni; Drivers of the 2 cars used in the kidnapping have been arrested. #Libya." On Tanaseh TV, apparently owned by the Fatwa House, Ghariani said: “These people are receiving instructions from some Arab Gulf states to kill Libyan clerics.” Many of the media outlets in Libya are foreign-owned some by the UAE. The Madkhalites as well apparently have their own media. According to a recent tweet: "Literally 1000s of hours of ranting, like al-Maki's recording, filling airwaves in #Libya, #Madakhila operate ~30 FM Radio Stations." Reports from Libya often need verification before they can be relied upon.

While most reports, talk of Omrani being murdered, according to the Libya Herald his body has not yet been found. You would think that the person who confessed to being involved in the murder would have some idea where the body could be found but no body has yet been found in the location he suggested it was. Religious authorities already suspended 15 clerics associated with Madkhalism from Tripoli mosques. As the Grand Mufti, Ghariani is the highest religious authority in Libya. Authorities have also banned books containing the views of the Egyptian cleric Mohamed Raslan who had been accused of issuing a command to kill the sheikh. Ghariani is often quite controversial and has many opponents. There are unconfirmed reports that forces loyal to Ghariani are gathering to attack Rada (special deterrence forces) at Mitiga air base. Rada members were claimed to have been involved in the abduction.

A very informative article on Madkhalists in Libya by Frederic Wehrey can be found on the Carnegie Middle East Center website. One of the units involved in the offensive on Sirte is the 604th infantry battalion. They were recently able to regain the Cordoba Mosque in Sirte. The former imam was killed by the Islamic State occupiers as he refused to let the group use his mosque. Wehrey traces the growth of Madkhalist groups within Libya and concludes with a warning:But growing fissures within the Islamist field deserve attention, too. The rise of the so-called quietist Salafists, particularly in policing and religious institutions, has been one by-product of Libya’s worsening conflict, regional meddling, and, more recently, the fight against the Islamic State. Security actors in Tripoli, Misrata, Benghazi, and Bayda all acknowledge harnessing the power of Salafi fighting groups in their campaigns against political rivals and the Islamic State. But they are equally frank in admitting the unknown effects of this co-option on Libya’s future.

The abduction and presumed murder has been condemned by Martin Kobler the UN envoy, the Presidential Council (PC) of the GNA, the Salvation Government, and many others and all have called on those responsible to be punished. The Fatwa House issued a statement that said: "Punishment for criminals is an implementation of Allah’s words and a deterrence for other criminals. Shiekh Al-Omrani was assassinated because of his moderate religious thinking and his renunciation of extremists and radicals, who are most likely the ones who killed him based on misleading fatwas coming from outside Libya, just like they did with scholars and preachers in Benghazi.” Given that the culprits may have been involved with powerful militia groups no one may end up being punished.

Libya Dialogue group meets in Malta on Libya crisis

(November 10) Valetta--Today members of the Libyan Political Dialogue begin a two-day meeting whose aim is to end the political impasse in Libya and agree to the steps needed to advance the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA)

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The Libya Political Dialogue was a group of Libyan stakeholders assembled by former UN envoy to Libya, Bernardino Leon. Working with the dialogue members he produced several drafts of the Liberal Political Agreement. No draft was ever agreed to by both the Salvation government parliament, the General National Congress or the rival House of Representatives (HoR) government based in Tobruk. When Martin Kobler took over as UN envoy he tried to pass the final draft through both parliaments but failed.

Kobler got around this problem by convening members of the Dialogue who supported the LPA in the Moroccan resort town of Skhirat in December of 2015. Those members signed what is known as the Skhiirat Agreement or Libyan Political Agreement. Although there were members of both parliaments present none of them had authority from their parliaments to sign. Presumably the members of the Political Dialogue referred to in the notice of meeting are some or all of those members who signed the Skhirat agreement.

The LPA requires that the HoR vote confidence in the LPA before the GNA term began. However, the GNA was actually rejected although a hundred members signed a letter supporting the GNA albeit with reservations. This led to an earlier meeting of the Political Dialogue members. In March this year they met in Tunis to discuss the GNA decision to activate itself and move to Tripoli from Tunis. Although there was some dissension the meeting was interpreted as supporting the GNA decision and the GNA moved to the naval base at Tripoli.

However, the GNA still needed the HoR to vote confidence in it before the HoR could become the legislature of the GNA under the terms of the LPA. This has never happened. In fact the HoR voted on August 22 to reject the GNA. The GNA was supposed to present a new smaller cabinet of eight members within ten days but more than two months later there is as yet no sign of a list of such members. It is not even clear that the HoR will even receive such a list and vote on it. Nothing is scheduled and no deadline has been set. The HoR wants not just a new list of cabinet members but also the deletion of a section of the LPA which makes the Presidency Council of the GNA the commander of GNA forces. The HoR and Field Marshal Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army Forces associated with the HoR, want Haftar to remain in his position. This is one of what the UNSMIL statement calls a key obstacle to the implementation of the Political Agreement. Kobler insists that only with a unified government, "the people of Libya will live with security, and basic services can be restored".

There was a second meeting of Dialogue members in July in Tunis at which the group expressed disappointment in the work of the GNA and warned that if its performance did not improve they might vote a lack of confidence in it.

Other bodies are also meeting on the Libya crisis and there is a new initiative by the African Union. A spokesperson for Khalifa Haftar, Colonel Ahmed Mesmary, said that an alternative to the Skhirat agreement was being worked out by tribal leaders in the city of Ajdabiya.

The dialogue members may be asked to amend the LPA. Kobler has constantly insisted that the LPA cannot be amended until it is passed by the HoR as it is. Perhaps, he has now changed his mind. Without amendment of the LPA, it appears quite unlikely that the HoR will vote confidence in the GNA.