Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses. Share the link of this article with your facebook friends

 

6 Libyans Killed, 38 Injured South of Tripoli, Haftar Attacks South, 200 thousand Internally Displaced

January 19, 2019

 

Fighting in southern Trimpoli between Libyan factions, file, January 17, 2019	Smoke rising from the fighting in southern Trimpoli between Libyan factions, January 17, 2019

 

Human Rights Watch: 200 thousand internal displaced in Libya

Libya Observer, January 19, 2019 - 15:34, Written by: SafaAlharathy

Thousands of families who fled armed confrontations in Benghazi and Derna are unable to return to their homes or to reclaim their properties for fear of reprisals by Dignity forces, Human Rights Watch said Thursday.

In its World Report 2019, the organization said that there are still 200 thousand internally displaced persons in Libya, noting that the agreement between Misurata and Tawergha provides for the return of about 48 thousand people displaced from Tawergha, but only a few hundred have returned so far, because of destruction and other security reasons.

Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade: Weak ceasefire agreement caused renewed clashes

Libya Observer, January 17, 2019

By: AbdulkaderAssad

The senior leader at the Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade Atif Bergig said lack of real settlement and compromise for the previous clashes in Tripoli in August 2018 sparked a new war and violated the ceasefire.

Speaking to a local media outlet, Bergig said the security arrangements that were approved in Al-Zawiya under the auspices of the UNSMIL had not been implemented well, except for the return of armed formations to their positions.

"Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade is not in favor for war neither entering Tripoli by force and clashes." He added.

Bergig also criticized the Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha and said his policies are defiant to the armed formations inside Tripoli, adding that Bashagha has no choice but to rely on the armed groups in Tripoli or bring others from other cities.

"Armed factions must be reorganized. They should be appointed to do tasks instead of eliminated. Thus a force that has the acceptance in Tripoli and by Tripoli people should be tasked with the control of the Tripoli International Airport." He explained, saying Bashagha's policies could cost him his position as his predecessor.

Meanwhile, the commander of the western military zone Osama Juwaily said he had expected the fresh clashes in Tripoli's southern areas.

"The fighting was caused due to the lack of a radical solution to the crisis, not to mention crime, banditry, and the security vacuum in the areas of clashes." Juwaily remarked.

He added that the solution might be to appoint a force that can mediate between the conflicting forces with ceasefire monitoring teams, saying that this was the solution on the table last August, but the fighting parties reject the western zone forces to play a mediator.

6  people killed (3 fighters, 2 civilians, 1 unidentified),  38 others wounded (36 fighters, 2 civilians) and 1 missing.

Clashes between forces loyal to the 7th Brigade and Tripoli Protection Force have been reported in southern Tripoli since early Wednesday, with continuous mobilization of military equipment, vehicles, and fighters from both sides.

According to medical sources from the capital, six people were killed and 38 others have been injured after fighting intensified in southern Tripoli areas like Qasir Benghashir, with reports of intermittent clashes in Souq Al-Ahad and Souq Al-Sabit areas and waves of displacement.

Health Ministry’s Injured Persons’ Affairs Department announced, meanwhile, the state of emergency as it expects the number of casualties to increase due to the clashes.

Photos circulated on social media showed early on Wednesday military vehicles for Special Deterrence Force and other Tripoli Protection Force brigades moving into Qasir Benghashir, knowing that the latter said it had foiled an attack by an armed group in the morning, adding that it is taking action to save the innocent lives in the areas.

“The attacking forces are not committed to the ceasefire and withdrawal from Tripoli military zone.” The force said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry of Presidential Council deplored the violence in southern Tripoli, confirming in a statement that it had officially handed over Tripoli International Airport to the Security Directorate of Tarhuna for protection.

The ministry warned Tripoli truce breakers of the consequences of their acts, saying a report would be submitted to the Presidential Council about the incidents.

The ministry’s statement clearly indicates that the truce breakers are the armed brigades of Tripoli Protection Force, who ignited the fighting after the deployment of Tarhuna’s 7th Brigade in the vicinity of Tripoli International Airport.

For its part, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) strongly condemned the recent military mobilization of forces in southern Tripoli and said it was monitoring the situation closely.

“UNSMIL warns parties against any breach of the ceasefire agreement concluded on 04 and 09 September 2018, compromising stability in the capital and, most importantly, endangering the lives of civilians and their properties.” It said in a statement.

The UNSMIL added that any party initiating a confrontation will be held fully responsible, reaffirming that it will take action as necessary and will explore all possible and available measures based on future developments on the ground in order to deter such events, which it condemns and rejects unequivocally.

“The Mission reminds all parties in Libya that any direct or indirect attack on civilians, their properties and public facilities constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.” UNSMIL added.

Haftar launches fresh military operation on the pretext of "securing" south Libya

Libya Observer, January 15, 2019

By: AbdulkaderAssad

The Spokesman for the self-styled army in eastern Libya, Ahmed Al-Mismari, has announced that Khalifa Haftar ordered the launching of a military operation to advance on the southwestern districts in Libya to "secure and protect the residents from terrorists and criminal groups."

"The operation is going to protect the people from the terrorists and criminals who work for foreign parties to change the topography of Libyan and its identity." The statement of Al-Mismari said.

The statement says the operation aims to protect also Libya's resources such as water, oil and gas as well as helping Libyans to be provided for by the needed services such as foods, power, water and other important things.

"The operation targets as well exacting law and order in the region, fighting smuggling, crimes, human trafficking, and illegal immigration, let alone protecting oil facilities and local as well as foreign companies." The statement adds.

The operations room operated by Haftar's forces called on residents to be vigilant and to avoid being in clashes' zones in Sabha, where it said there are gatherings of terrorists and criminals.

Previously, Haftar's command announced the launching of four operations each aimed to secure the southern region, yet none of them had any effect on the ground.

***

Share the link of this article with your facebook friends