France condemns Turkish intervention in Libya, Turkey refutes ceasefire

CAIRO – 13 July 2020: French Defense Minister Florence Parly told press Monday that Turkey brings large numbers of Syrian mercenaries into Libya, and that is documented at the United Nations, as reported by Al Arabiyah.

The French minister condemned the arms embargo violations committed by foreign powers calling for a political solution as mandated by Berlin Conference held in January.

Parly added that her country does not back a specific party in Libya. Nevertheless, she pointed out that Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar played a massive role in deterring the Islamic State (IS) in Libya.

In a European Union (EU) meeting held on Thursday, the French defense minister expressed concerns over Turkish moves in the Mediterranean, and support to fellow EU member, Cyprus. It is noted that Turkey has been interfering in the gas drilling works carried out by Cyprus in its national waters.

Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu said in press statements Monday that a ceasefire will not be in the interest of the Government of National Accord (GNA) at present adding that it should first take over Sirte and Al Jufrah airbase.

The GNA is an interim non-elected government that is recognized by the United Nations.

On June 20, Egypt's President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi declared Sirte and Al Jufrah a red line, that if crossed, a direct intervention by Egypt will be internationally legitimate. That is because it will be requested by the elected House of Representatives and the Libyan tribes, and aligned with the UN Security Council resolutions and Berlin Conference calling for a political solution, and banning arms transfer into Libya.

Spokesperson of the LNA Ahmed al-Mesmary stated in a phone-in Sunday that Turkey has transported into Libya 17,000 Syrian mercenaries as well as heavy arms and armored vehicles. In addition, it deployed marine vessels on coasts western Libya.

Mesmary said that the GNA is marginalized, and that western Libya is controlled by the local branch of the Muslim Brotherhood in coordination with the Turkish branch.

The LNA spokesperson accused the GNA of treason describing its members as "agents," and saying they work against the interests of Libya. The spokesperson underlined that the LNA fights for peace in Libya while Turkey aims for blackmailing Europe through controlling illegal migration from the North African state.

Mesmary asserted that Turkey eyes Libyan oil resources, and that is why it had threatened of targeting Sirte and Al Jufrah in central Libya as they compose the portal to Libyan oil fields and facilities.

Sources told Al Arabiyah that two flights landed in Misrata from Turkey on Monday, and that they were carrying 356 Syrian and Tunisian mercenaries. It is noted that Turkey had transported into Libya 1,400 Tunisian mercenaries from Syria's Aleppo and Idlib as they transited in Istabul and Ghaziantep.

The United States had expressed concerns over foreign intervention in the Libyan economy. In response, the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the interim government based in Tobruk and formed by the elected House of Representatives, issued a statement voicing frustration over the use of national reserves at the Tripoli-based Libyan Central Bank by the GNA to pay mercenaries and finance militias.  

Libyan tribes announced the closure of oil ports and field in January as the revenues were used by the GNA to pay militants. Early in July, the tribes declared that oil facilities would resume operations. However, the LNA announced on July 11 that such facilities would remain closed until the demands of the Libyan people on dismantling militias are fulfilled. The Libyan National Oil Corporation (NCO) announced that the value of revenues lost until present is $6.5 billion.

The communication office of the Turkish presidency declared on July 6 Al Jufrah Airbase a military target of the country's forces stationed in Libya pointing out that Sirte is a key city given it is the portal to Libyan oil resources.

The statement comes one day after several "unknown aircraft" launched nine strikes against Oqba Bin Nafea Airbase located in Al Watiyah controlled by the Government of National Accord (GNA) and Turkey. The outcome was the destruction of Hawk air defense systems, and a Koral electronic warfare system as well as the killing of a Turkish commander, and six officers as the operations room they were in was hit.

It is noted that in May the GNA captured Al Watiyah, and Tarhouna, which was the last stronghold of the Libyan National Army western Libya. Sirte, which lies in central Libya, was restored by the LNA in January one month after the GNA and Turkey signed two MoUs on defense and gas drilling eastern the Mediterranean.

As a consequence, Turkey transported into Libya thousands of Syrian mercenaries and sent 1,500 Turkish officers and experts to co-command militias' operations rooms.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Resources (SOHR) reported that Turkey is still training Syrian militants on its lands and transferring them to Libya, despite the return of 3,200 to Syria.

The observatory revealed that around 300 Syrian mercenaries are aged between 14 and 18 in Libya, and that around 432 Syrian militants were killed in confrontations with the LNA, including 30 minors and leaders.

SOHR also reported that 400 Syrian mercenaries left Libya, and illegally entered European countries through Italy.
 

The LNA has downed around 70 drones mostly piloted from Mitiga Airbase in Tripoli and used to target concentrations of the Libyan Armed Forces. In the same context context, Turkey contemplates establishing a Turkish airbase in Al Watiyah, lying 30 kilometers from Libyan-Tunisian borders, and a naval one in Misrata.  

Libyan military sources told Youm7 on July 7 that the LNA is reinforcing its defenses in Sirte and Al Jufrah to repel any attempts by the GNA or "mercenaries" to advance. The LNA installed advanced air defense systems in both towns as military reinforcements have reached militias eastern Misrata within a plan to move towards Sirte.