Despite American and Egyptian efforts to reach a political settlement to the Libyan crisis, the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) carried out a drill with live fire near the strategic central city of Sirte.
GNA forces in the area said they carried out intense drills in the Sirte and al-Jufra regions in “preparation for any development in the future.”
The GNA, headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, also accused Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar of continuing to amass his forces around the city.
A local GNA commander claimed that a Russian cargo plane carrying Syrian mercenaries and ammunition had landed at Sirte’s Gardabya airport to back the LNA despite the ceasefire declared between the warring parties over the disputed area.
Meanwhile, tensions continued to mount in Tripoli with locals confirming the deployment of pro-GNA militias hours after the surprise takeover of the “Lions of Tajoura” unit, backed by the Rahbat Aldrou Tajoura Brigade, of the al-Daman militia headquarters in the Tajoura eastern suburb of the capital.
The GNA and United Nations missions have yet to comment on the developments.
On Sunday, clashes erupted between the Rahbat Aldrou Tajoura Brigade and al-Daman in Tajoura. Two days earlier, armed convoys belonging to the deterrence force militia were seen headed towards central Tripoli.
Local sources and residents confirmed that the Lions of Tajoura and Aldrou now have complete control over the Tajoura municipal region. The al-Daman militants, who are loyal to the GNA’s Interior Ministry, have fled to the headquarters of another militia in Ain Zara in southern Tripoli.
The development demonstrates that the order by GNA Defense Minister Salah al-Namroush to refer the al-Daman and Lions of Tajoura commanders to the military prosecutor has been ignored as has his order to dissolve the two groups.
Meanwhile, American Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland was in Cairo on Sunday for talks with senior officials over the Libyan national political dialogue committee meeting.
“I’m continuing consultations with a stop in Cairo. Here, I’ll express thanks to Egypt for hosting the successful Hurghada talks on security in Libya; and we will exchange views on how best to support the upcoming Libyan Political Dialogue Forum,” said the envoy in a tweet.
Arrangements are underway to hold a meeting of senior Libyan officials in Egypt. Speaker of the east-based parliament Aguila Saleh is expected to meet with Norland.
Sarraj, meanwhile, made a surprise visit to Turkey where he met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as part of the “ongoing consultations and coordination” between the two sides. Turkish media reported that discussions focused on the ongoing preparations for the formation of a new Presidential Council in wake of Sarraj’s announcement that he intends to resign in October should the Libyan political dialogue reach a peace agreement.
