Military Forces Amass in Western Libya for Possible Confrontation with Haftar's LNA

LNA forces are seen headed to the southwestern region. (Screengrab from a video released by the infantry command)
LNA forces are seen headed to the southwestern region. (Screengrab from a video released by the infantry command)
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Military Forces Amass in Western Libya for Possible Confrontation with Haftar's LNA

LNA forces are seen headed to the southwestern region. (Screengrab from a video released by the infantry command)
LNA forces are seen headed to the southwestern region. (Screengrab from a video released by the infantry command)

The military continued to amass its forces in western Libya ahead of a possible clash with the Libyan National Army (LNA), commanded by Khalifa Haftar.

The LNA has been moving forces to the southwest to “secure the borders and bolster national security,” it said.

Despite the assurances, all security and military forces in the west are on alert over the LNA’s mobilization. Military preparations have been reported in Misrata and Zawiya in anticipation of a possible clash with Haftar’s forces.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said on Friday it was monitoring “with concern the recent mobilization of forces in various parts of Libya, particularly in the southern and western regions.”

In a statement, it said: “We commend ongoing efforts to de-escalate the situation and prevent further tension.”

“The UNSMIL urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any provocative military actions that could be perceived as offensive and might jeopardize Libya’s fragile stability and the safety of its people. The Mission calls for continued communication and coordination between forces affiliated to the LNA and Government of National Unity (GNU),” it added.

“The Mission regrets that these developments coincide with the 84th anniversary of the foundation of Libya’s army and recalls the current division of this vital institution,” it noted.

“On this occasion, the Mission reminds all military and security actors of the importance of a unified, accountable, and professional military and security institutions. The Mission stands ready to facilitate dialogue towards that end and provide all technical expertise and support,” it went on to say.

Meanwhile, head of the Presidential Council Mohammed al-Menfi held talks in Tripoli on Thursday with some representatives of security forces in the western region.

His office said they expressed their “support for all of his further steps that aim to achieve stability in the western region.”

The GNU-aligned army command, Joint Operations Command and National Agency for Supporting Forces announced that they have raised the readiness of their forces in anticipation of “any danger”.

In an attempt to ease tensions, the LNA said its forces were mobilizing to secure the southern borders by intensifying desert patrols and monitoring the border.

The mobilization is at the order of Haftar as part of attempts to bolster border security and confront any threats that may target the safety and security of the nation, said the LNA command.

It added that forces have been dispatched to the cities of Sabha, Ghat, Ubari, Murzuq, al-Qatrun, Brak, al-Shati and Adiri where LNA forces are already deployed.

It stressed that the mobilization was ordered given the tensions in neighboring countries and the activity of extremist groups.

The High Council of State expressed its rejection of the “illegal” mobilization, saying it was a “blatant attempt to expand influence and control in a strategically vital region with neighboring countries.”

It warned that the mobilization may lead to armed conflict that undermines the ceasefire and efforts to unify the army, leading to the collapse of the political process.

It called on the Presidential Council, in its capacity as high commander of the army, “to raise the alert level of forces and prepare to confront any possible danger.”

It also urged the UNSMIL and international community to take a clear stance and condemn the mobilization.

Observers said Haftar was seeking through the mobilization to expand the LNA’s control over vital regions close to the Tunisian-Algerian border, including Ghadames airport.

They did not rule out the possibility of the eruption of clashes in the region in the coming days between the LNA and GNU forces.

Every side is trying to consolidate its forces through military allies in the region in order to seize control of Ghadames and its airport ahead of opening a new border-crossing that grants access to Africa, they noted.



Iraq Faces 2025 Fiscal Squeeze Amid Oil Price Decline, Adviser to PM Says 

A general view shows an oil rig used in drilling at the Zubair oilfield in Basra, Iraq, July 5, 2022. (Reuters)
A general view shows an oil rig used in drilling at the Zubair oilfield in Basra, Iraq, July 5, 2022. (Reuters)
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Iraq Faces 2025 Fiscal Squeeze Amid Oil Price Decline, Adviser to PM Says 

A general view shows an oil rig used in drilling at the Zubair oilfield in Basra, Iraq, July 5, 2022. (Reuters)
A general view shows an oil rig used in drilling at the Zubair oilfield in Basra, Iraq, July 5, 2022. (Reuters)

Iraq faces a budget crunch in 2025 due to the slump in the price of oil, the overwhelming source of government revenue, a top economic adviser to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said.

"We don't anticipate major problems in 2024, but we need stricter financial discipline for 2025," Mudher Saleh told Reuters in an interview late on Monday.

Iraq, OPEC's second-largest producer, is heavily dependent on oil revenues. The hydrocarbons sector accounts for the vast majority of export earnings and some 90% of state revenue.

This huge reliance on oil makes Iraq particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in global crude prices.

Still, Iraq increased its budget in 2024 even after record spending in 2023, when more than half a million additional employees were hired into the already-bloated public sector and a capital-intensive nationwide infrastructure revamp began.

The 2024 budget rose to 211 trillion dinars ($161 billion) from 199 trillion dinars ($153 billion) in 2023, maintaining a projected deficit of 64 trillion dinars, Saleh said.

The budget assumes an oil price of $70 per barrel in 2024, around $6 less than the likely average price this year.

Saleh said that paying salaries and pensions on time remain a top priority. They account for 90 trillion dinars ($69 billion), or over 40% of the budget, and are a key factor of social stability in Iraq.

"The government will pay salaries even if it costs everything. Salaries are holy in Iraq," he said.

Infrastructure development, meanwhile, could be refocused on the most strategic projects - such as key road and bridge works in the capital Baghdad - if the state finds itself in a financial crunch, he said.

To bolster finances, Iraq is focusing on increasing non-oil revenues through improved tax collection but is not exploring any new levies, Saleh said.

He estimated that Iraq loses up to $10 billion annually due to tax evasion and customs-related problems.

Concerns for the 2025 budget reflect a challenging global oil market. Oil prices have been on a downward trend since mid-2022, with Brent crude, the international benchmark, falling from over $120 per barrel to below $75 in recent days.

This decline is largely attributed to weakening global demand, particularly from China, the world's largest oil importer, as its economic growth slows down.