LNA controls key entrance to Misrata, detects daily mercenaries transportation by Turkey

CAIRO – 12 April 2020: Spokesperson of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Ahmed al-Mesmary declared on Sunday that the Libyan Armed Forces controlled the western entrance of Abou Grein village lying southern Misrata city.

Mesmary announced that, after fleeing, the "enemy" left behind munitions in Abou Grein. He also warned LNA soldiers of touching the munitions or captives until sterilization takes place.

The Libyan War Division announced on its Facebook Page Sunday that the Air Force was striking militias concentrations in Sheil Om Khrab village and other sites where arms and ammunition are stored southern Abou Grein.

On Saturday, the division posted a video of "The Storm Battalion" affiliated to the General Command getting ready in Benghazi to join forces on different axes. On Sunday, it announced the battalion's departure to participate in battles across the country.

Later on Sunday, Mesmary held a press conference saying that the Turkish occupation still targets vehicles delivering staples to around two million civilians in Tripoli suburbs criticizing that the United Nations has not denounced such acts.

"Although the entire world is restricting aviation as a protective measure against COVID-19, Turkey still transports terrorists into Libya," Mesmary said revealing that the LNA detected the arrival of 1,500 Syrian terrorists on a ship at Tripoli Port. Those were not tested for COVID-19, he added.

"On April 9, an Airbus 320 Libyan Airlines plane took off from Mitiga International Airport at 10:30 p.m. having around 150-160 passengers on board and landed in Istanbul. On April 10, buses carrying terrorists entered Turkey from Syria, and then headed to Gaziantep where they were flown by a Turkish A40180 military jet to Istanbul, where the terrorists boarded the Libyan Airways Airbus plane that returned to Mitiga International Airport," Mesmary stated.

"Planes carry militants, arms and equipment daily into Libya in the watch of the world," Mesmary complained criticizing the Government of National Accord (GNA) that is allied with Turkey.

"Instead of flying back stranded Libyans, militants are being brought in," Mesmary said. The GNA is an interim non-elected government that is recognized by the United Nations and protected by militias. The Tripoli-based government signed in December 2019 two MoUs on defense and gas drilling eastern the Mediterranean.

"We interrogated a Syrian captive and he does know anything about military science. He is a poor illiterate civilian man who came [to Libya] for money," Mesmary said.

"The Syrian militants brought to Libya are the camps dwellers who have been displaced. Turkey is currently trying to move them to Yemen to fight on behalf of Al Islah Party affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood. The salary offered is $5,000. Turkey is trying to infiltrate into the Red Sea to threaten international sailing at international waterways in the zone, and is attempting to have presence near the European area of the Mediterranean," Mesmary said.

The LNA spokesperson pointed out that Turkey has been able to hire Kurdish individuals to fight in the ranks of its proxy armed groups. He revealed the identity of a Kurd called Shaker Farman Saleh Bonjeq Herfaky who was born in 1985 eastern Syria. The militant was trained by Turkey and is currently fighting in the ranks of the GNA militias in Libya.

The LNA has been attempting to enter Tripoli since April 2019 and succeeded to encircle the capital and Misrata this year as well as recovering Sirte from the militias. Turkey has sent more than 6,000 Syrian mercenaries to Libya, as well as Turkish officers and military experts. It has been flying drones from Mitiga International Airport to attack the LNA forces as well but many of them were downed.