Libyan National Army affirms remaining on Tripoli outskirts

CAIRO - 13 January 2020: The Libyan National Army (LNA) announced on Monday that it would not withdraw from the territories it had conquered in Tripoli’s outskirts, and that it is determined to free the entire Libyan soil from militias and terror groups.

Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar and Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj started a meeting on Monday in Moscow, Sky News Arabia reported.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss “the possibility of signing a truce and the details of such a document,” Reuters citing Interfax.

Sources told Al Arabiya that the prospective agreement provides that the LNA secures oil and gas wells, and combats terrorism. The deal also consists of an international supervision of urban and maritime ports as well as a reciprocal withdrawal of forces.

A ceasefire between both parties started on Sunday; however, LNA and Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives Aguila Saleh announced on the same day that militias affiliated to Tripoli-based GNA had violated the ceasefire. Nevertheless, the LNA affirmed its commitment to the ceasefire.

Last week, LNA captured Sirte and was advancing towards Misrata after entering Tripoli’s outskirts.

Saleh stated on Sunday that his country may need to request the intervention of the Egyptian Armed Forces, if a foreign intervention takes place in Libya. The Libyan Speaker made the statement while visiting Egypt’s House of Representatives as he attended the plenary session and met with the General Committee and Egyptian counterpart Ali Abdel Aal.

On Wednesday, Turkey declared sending 35 soldiers to Libya claiming they would not take part in combat. Nevertheless, Libya Review publication reported on Saturday that three Turkish soldiers were killed in Libya, and six others were injured. The bodies were brought to Misrata airport while the injured have received treatment at Nalut hospital near Tripoli.

In December, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that 300 militants affiliated to Turkey have been relocated to the Libyan capital from Syria and that 900-1,000 militants moved to Turkish camps to receive training.

Earlier in the same month, Turkey and GNA signed two MoUs pertinent to military cooperation and maritime border demarcation. On Sunday, Saleh condemned in his speech in Cairo the measure because the GNA is not elected and has not got the approval of the elected House of Representatives to sign such MoUs describing the move as an act of high treason.