UNSMIL Calls for Containing Military Tensions in Libya

A bus travels towards Tripoli by the newly-reopened coastal road which was cut between the cities of Misrata and Sirte, near Ras Lanuf, Libya August 10, 2021. (Reuters)
A bus travels towards Tripoli by the newly-reopened coastal road which was cut between the cities of Misrata and Sirte, near Ras Lanuf, Libya August 10, 2021. (Reuters)
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UNSMIL Calls for Containing Military Tensions in Libya

A bus travels towards Tripoli by the newly-reopened coastal road which was cut between the cities of Misrata and Sirte, near Ras Lanuf, Libya August 10, 2021. (Reuters)
A bus travels towards Tripoli by the newly-reopened coastal road which was cut between the cities of Misrata and Sirte, near Ras Lanuf, Libya August 10, 2021. (Reuters)

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called on all parties in Libya “to refrain from any mobilization or deployment of security elements and troops that may be perceived as an escalation.”

Several political, military, and security parties that are loyal to the transitional authority denounced a recent demand by the Joint Military Committee (JMC) for the suspension of agreements signed by Libya with other countries.

UNSMIL urged all parties “to respect the lines of demarcation as they were at the time of the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement.”

The statement further added, “UNSMIL renews its support to the efforts of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission aimed at maintaining calm and stability.”

“The Mission renews its call to all concerned national and international actors to ensure, respect, and support the full implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions,” it continued.

Meanwhile, head of the Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid Dbeibeh stressed during a surprise meeting on Wednesday with several members of the military committee the need for coordination over decisions to ensure that they are in line with the government’s plan.

He reiterated the Defense Ministry’s support for the efforts of the JMC that led to the reopening of the coastal road, confirming that they are following up closely on the committee's work while emphasizing the importance of coordination with the Ministry of Interior to secure the road.

The Libyan Presidential Council, headed by Mohammed al-Menfi, demanded that a minister of defense should be appointed soon to unify the military. Dbeibeh currently acts as defense minister in his capacity as head of the government.

Spokesperson of the Council, Najwa Wahiba said on Wednesday that the council, in its capacity as chief commander of the army, reiterated its willingness to unify the military and support national reconciliation to pave the way for the elections in December.



Erdogan Says Türkiye Ready to Help with Ceasefire in Gaza

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 19, 2024. (Reuters)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 19, 2024. (Reuters)
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Erdogan Says Türkiye Ready to Help with Ceasefire in Gaza

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 19, 2024. (Reuters)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 19, 2024. (Reuters)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Türkiye was ready to help in any way possible to establish a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, and expressed satisfaction with the ceasefire agreement that has come into effect in Lebanon.

Türkiye, which has fiercely criticized Israel's offensives in Gaza and Lebanon, has previously said it discussed a potential truce in Gaza with Palestinian armed group Hamas and gave the group recommendations on how to proceed with the negotiations.

On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden said the United States would again push for an elusive ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza "with Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others".

"We are stating that, as Türkiye, we are ready to provide any contribution for the massacre in Gaza to end and for a lasting ceasefire to be achieved," Erdogan told members of his ruling AK Party in parliament.

Asked about Biden's remarks, a Turkish official told Reuters a ceasefire in Lebanon without a truce in Gaza was not enough to achieve regional stability, adding Ankara was ready to help reach a deal in Gaza, just as it had supported previous efforts.

"We are again ready to help achieve a permanent ceasefire and a lasting solution in Gaza," the official said.

While Ankara has repeatedly traded insults with Israel since the outbreak of the Gaza war, it has not officially severed ties with it. Unlike Israel and its Western partners, Türkiye does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization and regularly hosts some of its senior members.