Prisoners conscripted to fight in Tripoli militias ranks: LNA

CAIRO - 2 March 2020: The Libyan National Army (LNA) released a statement on Monday accusing Osama al-Juwaily, commander of the militias operating western Tripoli, of conscripting prisoners and convicts in criminal cases to fight the Libyan Armed Forces.

LNA Spokesperson Ahmed al-Mesmary explained that those inmates were promised of getting released and having their sentences reduced describing Juwaily as “terrorist” and “oil smuggler.”

The LNA downed six Turkish drones western the country on Sunday as they were attempting to hit military concentrations. On February 26, seven Turkish soldiers were killed in an LNA offensive against Mitiga airport.

The airport is under the control of militias protecting the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), which is an interim not elected government that is, yet, recognized by the United Nations.

Head of the Mobilization Department at the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khaled al-Mahgoub told Russia Today that the number of Turkish military personnel killed in Libya by the Armed Forces is 16 until February 23, while that of mercenaries brought by the Middle Eastern state is 105.

Sources told Al Arabiya that an LNA shelling of Tripoli seaport killed three Turkish commanders. On February 18, the LNA had targeted a Turkish ship carrying weapons and ammunition while docked at the port, and a hanger where arms brought by Turkey are stored. The hanger was located in Tripoli seaport as well.

Turkey has been backing Tripoli militias after it had signed two MoUs with GNA in December to achieve cooperation in the sectors of defense and gas drilling in the Mediterranean.