Ghannouchi Congratulates Libya’s Sarraj on Recapture of Watiya Airbase

Speaker Rached Ghannouchi speaks during an interview with Reuters journalists in Tunis, Tunisia, April 25, 2018. Reuters file photo
Speaker Rached Ghannouchi speaks during an interview with Reuters journalists in Tunis, Tunisia, April 25, 2018. Reuters file photo
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Ghannouchi Congratulates Libya’s Sarraj on Recapture of Watiya Airbase

Speaker Rached Ghannouchi speaks during an interview with Reuters journalists in Tunis, Tunisia, April 25, 2018. Reuters file photo
Speaker Rached Ghannouchi speaks during an interview with Reuters journalists in Tunis, Tunisia, April 25, 2018. Reuters file photo

Leader of Tunisia’s Islamist Ennahda movement Rached Ghannouchi has congratulated Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of Libya’s Government of National Accord, on GNA’s recapture of al-Watiya airbase from the Libyan National Army of Khalifa Haftar.

Ghannouchi, who is the speaker of Tunisia’s parliament, extended his congratulations to Sarraj in a phone call on Tuesday evening.

His move has raised doubts about Tunisia’s allegedly neutral stance on developments in Libya.

Libyan sources said that Ghannouchi breathed a sigh of relief as the LNA withdrew from the strategic al-Watiya airbase near the Tunisian border last Monday. The Tunisian politician also asserted that there is no military answer to the raging conflict in Libya and that it is important to return to the political course.

Sarraj, for his part, voiced his gratitude for the feelings of brotherhood expressed by Ghannouchi and praised the deep relations shared with Tunisia.

According to a press release, Sarraj praised Tunisia’s keenness on the security and stability of Libya, saying he is looking forward to boost cooperation between the two countries.

Observers believe that Ghannouchi’s move to congratulate the GNA would fuel ideological conflicts between a number of Tunisian parties. The move follows reassurances given by Tunisian authorities, on more than one occasion, that the country will remain impartial to the conflict in Libya.

Tunisian President Kais Saied had previously acknowledged his support for the GNA, which means that the Tunisian position is clearly in favor of Sarraj.

Tunisia’s opposition political parties called for transparency in political affairs, demanding that Ghannouchi announces his diplomatic and political initiatives to the public.

The speaker’s phone call to Sarraj was not made public, prompting opposition parties to doubt whether hiding the information from the public was intentional.



Trump Says Gaza Ceasefire Possible this Week or Next

US President Donald Trump listens to opening remarks, on the day he hosts a lunch for African representatives of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
US President Donald Trump listens to opening remarks, on the day he hosts a lunch for African representatives of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
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Trump Says Gaza Ceasefire Possible this Week or Next

US President Donald Trump listens to opening remarks, on the day he hosts a lunch for African representatives of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
US President Donald Trump listens to opening remarks, on the day he hosts a lunch for African representatives of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

US President Donald Trump said there is a "very good chance" of a ceasefire in Gaza this week or next, after meeting Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday for the second time in two days to discuss the situation.

"We have a chance this week or next week," Trump told reporters.

Israel's military chief said on Wednesday "conditions have been created" for the advancement of a hostage release deal in Gaza, as indirect negotiations were under way between Israel and Hamas.

"We have achieved many significant results, we have caused great damage to the governance and military capabilities of Hamas," armed forces chief Eyal Zamir said in a televised speech.

"Thanks to the operational power that we have demonstrated, the conditions have been created to advance a deal to release the hostages."

Netanyahu said on Wednesday that his meeting with Trump focused on freeing the hostages held in Gaza, and stressed his determination to "eliminate" the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas.