As GNA Forces Advance on Major Positions in Southern Tripoli, Mercenaries Continue to Flock to Libya, May 25, 2020

As GNA Forces Advance on Major Positions in Southern Tripoli, Mercenaries Continue to Flock to Libya

May 25, 2020


Fighters of the Tripoli Government of National Accord, May 23, 2020

Libyan GNA forces advance on major positions in southern Tripoli

Libya Observer, May 23, 2020 - 18:29

Written By: AbdulkaderAssad

The Libyan Army forces have advanced on different frontlines, formerly held by Khalifa Haftar's forces, in southern Tripoli, in a continuation of a large-scale offensive that started Friday by the forces under the command of the Government of National Accord (GNA).

The spokesman for the Libyan Army Mohammed Gununu said Saturday that GNA forces had seized full control of Hamza, Yarmouk and Sawareekh (Missiles) military camps as well as other major frontlines in southern Tripoli such as Mashroa Al-Hadba and Khallat Al-Furjan as well as Al-Khallatat, which was also confirmed by the Volcano of Rage Operation.

GNA forces, after seizing most of Salah Al-Deen frontline Friday, continued their advance on other areas in Ain Zara like Fatima Al-Zahraa neighborhood near Wadi Rabea, reaching frontlines that had been seized by Haftar's forces since April 05 last year, when Haftar started his offensive on Tripoli.

Gununu, meanwhile, called on residents of the liberated frontlines not to rush into returning to their houses due to the mines planted by Haftar's forces inside the houses before fleeing the area, saying military engineers were removing the mines and explosives to secure their return.

On Friday, the Libyan Health Ministry said three people were killed by mine explosions as they went to their houses in areas liberated from Haftar's forces.

https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/libyan-gna-forces-advance-major-positions-southern-tripoli

Libyan Foreign Ministry says documenting the recovering of foreign fighter's body in south Tripoli

Libya Observer, May 23, 2020 - 16:37

Written By: AbdulkaderAssad

The Libyan Foreign Ministry of the Government of National Accord (GNA) said Saturday it was documenting with the concerned authorities the finding of a foreign fighter's body by GNA forces in south Tripoli, adding that it was looking into the fighter's personal belongings to gather evidence.

In a statement on Facebook, the Foreign Ministry added that once the investigation ends, it will send a file of the incident to the Security Council as an additional evidence of the presence of foriegn mercenaries fighting for Khalifa Haftar's forces on Salah Al-Deen frontline in southern Tripoli.

The Special Deterrence Force of the Interior Ministry said Friday it found a Russian Wagner Group mercenary fighter's body after liberating Salah Al-Deen frontline from Haftar's forces.

The body was seen in several photos and videos published by local media, along with the personal belongings he had lying next to his body.

A source from Special Deterrence Force said three Russian mercenaries had been killed in Friday clashes, two of whom had been recovered by their fellow fighters, while the third was left to fall in the hands of Libyan Army forces.

https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/libyan-foreign-ministry-says-documenting-recovering-foreign-fighters-body-south-tripoli

US ambassador voices need to end flow of Russian, other foreign arms and mercenaries into Libya

Libya Observer, May 23, 2020 - 16:03

Written By: AbdulkaderAssad

The US ambassador to Libya Richard Norland spoke with the Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord Fayez Al-Sarraj on Friday to reiterate the urgent need to end the destabilizing flow of Russian and other foreign military equipment and mercenaries into Libya.

The US embassy said Saturday in a statement that the US ambassador had welcomed the Government of National Accord’s important contributions to defeating terrorism and achieving peace.

According to the statement, the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Prime Minister Al-Sarraj agreed earlier on Friday that the needless offensive against Tripoli must end so all foreign forces can depart and Libyan leaders who are prepared to lay down their weapons can come together in peaceful dialogue on the issues that divide them.

US ambassador Norland informed Al-Sarraj that he intends to travel to Libya as soon as circumstances permit to formally present his credentials and further deepen the US-Libya partnership.

https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/us-ambassador-voices-need-end-flow-russian-other-foreign-arms-and-mercenaries-libya

Libya’s war | First fighter of Russian-backed Syrian mercenaries killed in Libya’s battles, and number of recruits jumps to 450

On May 24, 2020

Similar to what the Turkish government is doing by transferring “mercenaries” from Syrian loyal factions to fight in Libya alongside the “Government of National Accord”, Russia has recently begun recruiting Syrians, turning them into mercenaries and sending them to fight in Libya as well, but alongside the “Libyan National Army”.

According to Observatory sources, the number of arrivals to Libya of those who have been sent by a Russian security company has reached 450 mercenaries from the provinces of Raqqa, Homs, Latakia and Hasaka, while another batch of mercenaries is in Latakia in Russian-controlled military base of Hmeimim, in order to send them to Libya.

Reliable sources had informed the Syrian Observatory that a Russian security company has recruited tens of Syrians in order to send them to Libya to fight on the side of the “Libyan National Army” led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

“Each recruit will receive a monthly salary of 1,000 U.S. dollars in return for fighting on the side of ‘Haftar’s forces’ against the Turkish-backed ‘Government of National Accord’ which comprises Turkish-backed Syrian mercenaries,” the sources added.

Libya’s war | First fighter of Russian-backed Syrian mercenaries killed in Libya’s battles, and number of recruits jumps to 450

SOHR, On May 24, 2020

https://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=166414

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