Libya’s LNA, GNA Agree to Prisoner Exchange

Libyans are seen in the old city of Tripoli, Libya. (Reuters)
Libyans are seen in the old city of Tripoli, Libya. (Reuters)
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Libya’s LNA, GNA Agree to Prisoner Exchange

Libyans are seen in the old city of Tripoli, Libya. (Reuters)
Libyans are seen in the old city of Tripoli, Libya. (Reuters)

The Libyan joint military committee (5+5) reached an agreement on a prisoner exchange between the Libyan National Army (LNA), commanded by Khalifa Haftar, and Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Fayez al-Sarraj, revealed a prominent official from the military.

Khaled Mahjoub said the committee, which convened this week, has raised its recommendations to the United Nations Security Council and will begin arrangements as soon as possible to hold the swap.

The GNA is committed to the deal, despite the objections of some militias, he said.

The committee, which includes officers from the LNA and GNA, had in October agreed to a ceasefire in the country.

The British embassy in Libya, as co-chair of this group, applauded the progress the Joint Military Commission has made.

Separately, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) hailed the large consultative session of the House of Representatives that was held in Tangiers in Morocco.

“We hope the House of Representatives will fulfill the Libyan people's expectations for implementation of the roadmap agreed upon by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum towards the holding of national elections on December 24, 2021,” it tweeted.

“That such a diverse range of Parliamentarians from Libya's three regions is meeting under one roof is a positive and welcome step,” it added.

In Libya, meanwhile, GNA Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha, and in another attempt to burnish his credentials to succeed Sarraj, alleged that he was victim of a failed assassination attempt.

In remarks to local radio, he accused some officers from inside his ministry of being involved, revealing that they have since been arrested and referred to the judiciary.

The minister did not reveal the time or location of the alleged attempt against his life, but said it took place when the GNA was waging its counter operation against the LNA offensive against Tripoli.



Lebanese Army Denies Reports Claiming Militant Infiltration and Troop Withdrawal in Bekaa

Lebanese army units deploy on the Lebanese -Syrian border (File/Reuters) 
Lebanese army units deploy on the Lebanese -Syrian border (File/Reuters) 
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Lebanese Army Denies Reports Claiming Militant Infiltration and Troop Withdrawal in Bekaa

Lebanese army units deploy on the Lebanese -Syrian border (File/Reuters) 
Lebanese army units deploy on the Lebanese -Syrian border (File/Reuters) 

The Lebanese Army on Sunday denied reports alleging the infiltration of armed groups into Lebanon and the army's withdrawal from border areas in the Bekaa region.

In an official statement posted on its X page, the army said, “Further to previous statements, the Army Command denies what is being circulated on a number of social media sites regarding the entry of armed persons into Lebanon and the withdrawal of the army from border areas in the Bekaa.”

The statement affirmed that “the relevant military units continue to carry out their regular missions to control the Lebanese-Syrian border, in addition to monitoring the security situation internally to maintain stability and prevent any threat to civil peace.”

The Army Command then called for maintaining accuracy in reporting news related to the military institution and the security situation, and refraining from spreading rumors that could lead to tension among citizens.