LNA’s Karama Operation criticize UN envoy to Libya briefing at UNSC

CAIRO – 23 May 2019: Karama Operations Room affiliated with the Libyan National Army (LNA) criticized Special Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salamé's briefing at the UN Security Council on Tuesday, saying that he didn’t mention the militias aim at stealing Libyans treasures.

Karama Operations Room added in a Wednesday statement that Salamé was more focused on solving Muslim Brotherhood problems in Libya rather than solving the Libyans' problems.

The statement also refused Salamé’s description to the LNA forces as "Haftar Forces", while calling extremists and militia "military forces affiliated with the government of National Accord (GNA)".

Karama affirmed that the military operation launched by the LNA on April 4 aimed at liberating the capital, Tripoli, from terrorist and armed groups, pointing that Tripoli is "occupied by terrorist groups", according to GNA’s Interior Minister Fathi Bashaga's statement.

Karama accused Salamé of seeking a "failed" political agreement in Ghadames and aiming at empowering terrorist groups in the capital.

The statement also said that Salamé's analysis of the Libyan situation is not accurate. The statement referred to the UN envoy's warning to the Security Council that fighting around Tripoli poses risks of “descending into a civil war which could lead to the permanent division of the country.”

“This analysis is wrong, as the LNA aimed at liberating Tripoli,” Karama Operations Room stated.

On April 4, LNA led by Commander Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive against Tripoli claiming that they will "liberate the capital" from terrorist groups.

A National conference in Ghadames was expected to be held on April 14; however, after the offensive, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said that the conference will be postponed until further notice due to security reasons.

On Tuesday, Salamé said in his briefing to the UNSC that nearly 460 died, including 29 civilians, in the ongoing clashes.

He also noted that more than 2,400 have been injured, and 75,000 have been forcibly displaced. The majority of the displaced are civilians and half of them are women and children.