Haftar Mum on Libya Ceasefire Deal, GNA Calls for Mercenaries Pullout

A member of the troops loyal to the GNA rides a military vehicle as he prepares before heading to Sirte, on the outskirts of Misrata, on July 18. (Reuters)
A member of the troops loyal to the GNA rides a military vehicle as he prepares before heading to Sirte, on the outskirts of Misrata, on July 18. (Reuters)
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Haftar Mum on Libya Ceasefire Deal, GNA Calls for Mercenaries Pullout

A member of the troops loyal to the GNA rides a military vehicle as he prepares before heading to Sirte, on the outskirts of Misrata, on July 18. (Reuters)
A member of the troops loyal to the GNA rides a military vehicle as he prepares before heading to Sirte, on the outskirts of Misrata, on July 18. (Reuters)

Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar has yet to comment on the permanent nationwide ceasefire that was brokered by the United Nations earlier this week.

The accord, concluded after talks between military representatives of Fayez al-Sarraj's Government of National Accord (GNA) and the LNA in Geneva, will be followed by political discussions in Tunisia next month.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, informed Libyan sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the rival parties are beginning to implement the agreement on the ground.

LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari said that Haftar has not commented on the truce and that he was awaiting his official statement.

Mismari also denied claims attributed to him that he had apologized for the LNA’s war on Tripoli last year and earlier this year.

On the other side of the divide, the GNA Defense Ministry called for the immediate withdrawal of all mercenaries from oil facilities and military positions in Libya in a gesture of goodwill ahead of their pullout from the country.

It warned that some mercenary groups deployed at oil fields and the al-Jufra base “may be out of control and will need to be dealt with carefully and firmly.”

The High Council of State warned on Friday of the possible violation of the ceasefire by “rebellious” forces – a reference to the LNA – that do not recognize the presence of mercenaries among their ranks.

Spokesmen for the GNA’s Volcano of Rage operation, Mohammed Qanunu expressed doubts that the ceasefire would hold.

Qanunu, who was present at the Geneva talks, was skeptical over the ceasefire that “does not call for holding to account those involved in the aggression against Tripoli and other cities in western Libya.”

Moreover, he questioned the LNA’s ability to have “more than 5,000 Wagner group mercenaries and others from Syria, Sudan and Chad” withdraw from Libya

“We don’t believe they have the power to make such a demand, meanwhile the Wagner group continues to set up bases and fortifications and dig up trenches,” he added.

He also demanded that the UN dispatch monitors to the central city of Sirte and Jufra, describing them as hotbeds for foreign mercenaries.



Regional, Int’l Efforts Underway to Launch UN-Sponsored Political Process in Yemen

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi receives US envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking and Washington’s ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin. (Saba)
Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi receives US envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking and Washington’s ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin. (Saba)
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Regional, Int’l Efforts Underway to Launch UN-Sponsored Political Process in Yemen

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi receives US envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking and Washington’s ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin. (Saba)
Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi receives US envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking and Washington’s ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin. (Saba)

Intense diplomatic efforts have been underway in the Saudi capital Riyadh to launch a comprehensive UN-sponsored political process in Yemen.

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi received US envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking and Washington’s ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin.

Lenderking briefed the Yemeni leadership on the diplomatic efforts underway to ease tensions in Yemen and launch the political process.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Fagin said the Riyadh meeting was “productive”, revealing that it focused on the economy and limiting the escalation by the Iran-backed Houthi militias.

The terrorist Houthis continue to undermine regional security and peace, he stated.

For his part, Alimi underlined the legitimate Yemeni government’s commitment to just peace in line with the national, regional and international references, especially UN Security Council resolution 2216.

The meeting tackled the “urgency of stopping Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, preventing Iranian weapons from reaching the Houthis, and advancing diplomatic efforts to find a durable end to the conflict in Yemen,” said the US State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs on the X platform.

Lenderking briefed Alimi on the potential regional and international changes in wake of the results of the US presidential election and the options to push the terrorist Houthis to positively deal with UN efforts to launch the political process, reported Yemen’s Saba news agency.

They also tackled bilateral relations between Yemen and the US and ways to bolster them in all fields, as well as American support for the Yemeni economy.

Alimi underscored the need to intensify international efforts to implement the Security Council resolution on the embargo of sending Iranian arms to the Houthis.

Fagin also held a meeting with Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al-Jaber, who described the talks as “productive”.

The officials reviewed the developments in Yemen and the Red Sea and joint efforts to support the legitimate government and brotherly Yemeni people, Jaber added.

They also tackled means to support the UN envoy’s efforts to maintain calm and reach a comprehensive political solution, he went on to say.