WAR Regional conflict brewing in the Mediterranean

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Egypt announces new plan to end war in Libya as Haftar offensive loses ground




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Issued on: 06/06/2020 - 18:48Modified: 06/06/2020 - 18:48

File photo: A handout picture released by the Egyptian Presidency on May 9, 2019 shows Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meeting with Libyan military rebel commander Khalifa Haftar (L) at the Ittihadia presidential Palace in Cairo.

File photo: A handout picture released by the Egyptian Presidency on May 9, 2019 shows Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meeting with Libyan military rebel commander Khalifa Haftar (L) at the Ittihadia presidential Palace in Cairo. © Ho / Egyptian Presidency via AFP

Text by: NEWS WIRES

Egypt’s president Saturday announced a unilateral initiative to end the civil war in neighbouring Libya, a plan accepted by the commander of the eastern forces that have suffered heavy losses in recent weeks.



President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi told a news conference in Cairo that his initiative includes a cease-fire starting Monday and is meant to pave the way for elections in oil-rich Libya.
He warned against continuing to look for a military solution to the country’s crisis.
“There can be no stability in Libya unless peaceful means to the crisis are found that include the unity and integrity of the national institutions,” el-Sisi said. “The initiative could be a new start in Libya.”
There was no immediate comment from the UN-supported government based in Tripoli, but a spokesman for the military forces allied with it said they would continue fighting to capture the city of Sirte, east of Tripoli, which Commander Khalifa Haftar’s east-based forces took in January.

Mohamed Gnono said Tripoli-allied forces Saturday took control of the town of al-Washka east of the important port city of Misrata. “We did not start this war, but it is we who will determine when and where it will end,” he said.
The conference in Cairo was attended by Haftar and Aguila Saleh, speaker of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives. Several foreign diplomats, including US, Russian, French and Italian envoys attended. Haftar and Saleh are allies.
There were no representatives of the Tripoli-based administration, or of its main backers, Turkey and Qatar, at the conference.
Egypt’s initiative comes on the heels of Haftar’s major losses in western Libya and failure to carry on with a major offensive to seize control of Tripoli that Haftar launched in April last year.
The future of the conflict in Libya appears to be open to one of two scenarios: either de-escalation or a full-blown proxy war with major regional and international powers involved in outright conflict.
It was yet to be seen whether the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord will continue to press eastward to seize control of the vital oil installations, terminals and fields that tribes allied with Haftar shut down earlier this year. The shut-down paralyzed the country’s major source of income.
El-Sisi’s plan also comes amid the backdrop of US warnings against Russia’s “fanning the flames” of the conflict, saying that it could deploy its own forces in Tunisia to deter the Russians from destabilizing North Africa.
It also remained to be seen what will happen if the GNA turns down Egypt’s olive branch. Heavier involvement by Turkey in Libya could propel Egypt to act defensively by getting more involved militarily in Libya.
El-Sisi, who has backed Haftar in the war, said the initiative included the formation of a presidential council in which Libya’s three regions would be represented. That council would rule the country during a 1 ½-year transition period followed by elections.
The plan also includes the unification of all Libyan financial and oil institutions, and the disbanding of militias, so that the so-called Libyan National Army and other security agencies can “carry out their responsibilities,” el-Sisi said, without elaborating.
The Egyptian leader called for the withdrawal of all foreign fighters in Libya. Thousands of mercenaries, mostly form the war-torn Syria, have been fighting on both sides of the war.
Haftar said Saturday that Turkish intervention would increase regional and international polarization over Libya and “prolong the conflict.” He urged his host, el-Sisi, to work to force Turkey to withdraw its forces and the mercenaries it has sent.
“Turkey is sponsoring terrorism in front of the world and is transferring terrorists from one place to another within the Middle East and North Africa,” Haftar said. “This will further complicate the solution of the Libyan crisis.”
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The chaos in the oil-rich country has worsened in recent months as foreign backers increasingly intervene, despite pledges to the contrary at a high-profile peace summit in Berlin earlier this year. Haftar’s offensive on Tripoli has deeply polarized the already divided country and aborted UN efforts to hold a peace conference more than a year ago.
The military tide has been reversed in recent weeks. His forces lost almost all the territory they had gained since the beginning of the Tripoli offensive after Turkey increased its support to an array of militias loosely allied with the Tripoli-based government.
Haftar is are supported by France, Russia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and other key Arab countries. Along with Turkey, the government in Tripoli is backed by Italy and Qatar.
Libya has been in turmoil since 2011 when a civil war toppled long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was later killed. The country has split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each backed by armed groups and foreign governments.
(AP)

 
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Confirmed : The Egyptian army to raise the state of maximum alert, and the Mohamed Naguib base is now in a state of complete alert. #egypt #turkey #Libya #greece #france #russia
 
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US F-22s scrambled to intercept four Russian Aerospace Force's Tu-95MS strategic bombers performing a flight over the waters of the Chukchi, Bering and Okhotsk Seas and the northern part of the Pacific Ocean. - TASS
 
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MiG-29 Fighter Jet Reportedly Appears Over Key Libyan City That Is Now Under Siege

Separately, Turkish warships blocked the Greek Navy from boarding a cargo ship in the Mediterranean suspected of carrying arms to Libya.
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MiG-29 Fighter Jet Reportedly Appears Over Key Libyan City That Is Now Under Seige
BY JOSEPH TREVITHICKJUNE 10, 2020

There are as yet unconfirmed reports that at least one MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter from a tranche of jets that Russia sent to Libya to bolster forces aligned with strongman Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army last month has now flown a mission over the strategic coastal city of Sirte. This comes as the U.N.-recognized Government of National Accord is pushing to retake control of that area after weeks of substantial victories fueled by Turkish military assistance, especially deliveries of armed drones.

The reported sighting of the MiG-29 over Sirte also follows a Greek Navy frigate's attempt to board and inspect a Turkish-operated Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship in the Mediterranean Sea that is suspected of carrying a new shipment of Turkish weapons or other military equipment bound for Libya in violation of the United Nations arms embargo on that country. Turkish frigates escorting the vessel rejected the request and warned off the Greek warship, which is now reportedly shadowing the flotilla. This all underscores the growing spillover of broader geopolitical competition in the Mediterranean region emanating from the Libyan civil conflict.

Images purportedly of the MiG-29 flying over Sirte first emerged on social media on June 10, 2020. They came after a similarly unconfirmed sighting of an Il-76 transport plane landing in the city.

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The Government of National Accord (GNA), which sits in the country's internationally recognized capital Tripoli, announced the start of its offensive to take Sirte on June 6. This included airstrikes against elements of Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) in the city. The appearance of the MiG-29 overhead could be an effort to deter further strikes, especially against any aircraft, such as the Il-76, bringing in supplies and reinforcements, which would be particularly vulnerable while unloading on the ground at Sirte's airport.

GNA-aligned forces have been steadily routing the LNA, including contingents of Russian mercenaries with very close, if not direct ties to the Russian government, for weeks now, seizing various important locations in western Libya. The included the re-capture of the city of Tarhuna, which had served as a major node in Haftar's logistics network, including as part of the supply chain to Al Jufrah Air Base, where one of the Russian-supplied MiG-29s was spotted on May 19.
The GNA is now pushing into the broader Al Jufrah district. If forces aligned with the government in Tripoli seize that air base it could force the LNA to shift its air operations further west to less vulnerable locations, such as Al Khadim Air Base, where Su-24 Fencer combat jets that Russia also sent to Libya had been spotted previously. You can read more about the Kremlin's dispatching of these aircraft to Libya in these recent War Zone pieces.

GNA forces have already destroyed a substantial amount of LNA armored and unarmored vehicles, as well as UAE-supplied Russian-made Panstir-S1 point defense air defense systems, as they have pushed east. Bayraktar TB2 armed drones, which Turkey first supplied to the government in Tripoli last year, have made a mockery of the Pantsirs and contributed substantially to the GNA advances.

The LNA left behind significant amounts of weapons, ammunition, and other military hardware for the GNA to capture as it retreated, too. This includes Mi-35 Hind gunship attack helicopters and Chinese FN-6 shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles, also known as man-portable air defense systems, or MANPADS.

As is clear, the flow of arms and other military equipment to both sides of the conflict has been steady despite the arms embargo. In the past year or so, Turkey has emerged as the primary ally of the government in Tripoli, while Haftar continues to enjoy the support of Russia, the UAE, and Egypt, among others. He has also been more recently linked to the regime of Venezuela's dictatorial President Nicolas Maduro, who may be working with the rogue general in Libya to circumvent sanctions, especially on the export of Venezuelan gold.

International efforts to enforce Libya's arms embargo have been, at best, mixed. Just today, the Greek Navy's Hydra class frigate Spetsai had failed in its attempt to board the freighter under escort by Turkish warships in the Mediterranean. After it did not receive a response from that cargo ship, Spetsai had sent out its Sikorsky S-70B-6 Aegean Hawk helicopter, an export variant of the SH-60 Seahawk, to fly over the vessel and attempt to make contact. One of two unnamed Turkish Navy frigates, possibly members of the Gabya class that have been spotted off Libya in recent months, declined the request and told the Greek warship to stay.

Spetsai is presently operating in the Mediterranean as part of Operation Irini, a European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) that began on Mar. 31, 2020. The Italian Navy has been designated as the lead entity in charge of the entire operation. An Italian naval officer is also presently in charge of day-to-day activities, with plans to rotate that post with the Greek Navy every six months.

This effort is primarily focused on enforcing the arms embargo, but with additional authority to help stem illicit oil exports and human trafficking coming out of Libya. "European force vessels cannot intervene on ships accompanied by third-country warships – which makes European business even more difficult," a piece from CNN Greece reported.
Germany, Luxembourg, and Poland have all, at times, contributed land-based maritime patrol aircraft to the effort. France had also previously sent a Cassard class frigate, the Jean Bart, to support the operation. That warship prevented the Gabon-flagged UAE-operated tanker Jal Laxmi from entering Tobruk in eastern Libya, in May. Tobruk is the Haftar's main hub.

All told, the situation in Libya is now much more fluid, after it had looked like the LNA might finally capture Tripoli earlier this year. What's happening in and around libya also underscores how the North African country has become a central point in a growing multi-faceted geopolitical struggle across the region.

Over the weekend, Egypt attempted to broker a major ceasefire deal, which the GNA rejected. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had implied that his country's military could intervene directly in an attempt to enforce this halt in the fighting. Video footage, some of which is seen below, circulated widely on social media purportedly showing Egyptian heavy armor, including M1 Abrams tanks, and other forces heading to the border between the two countries.

Sisi has now distanced himself from the ceasefire plan, which he says Haftar proposed, and any imminent threat of Egyptian forces publicly entering the conflict has subsided. For its part, the government in Tripoli has indicated that it will stop its advances after it re-takes Sirte, which is in an immensely strategic location situated along the central Libyan coast on a major highway that links both sides of the country.
Russia and Turkey, who have repeatedly sparred over Syria, as well as worked together when it has been convenient, have now clearly expanded that competition to include Libya, as well. Those two countries attempted to get the GNA and the LNA to agree to a peace plan earlier this year, which Haftar rejected. Barring some sort of power-sharing agreement, which seems extremely unlikely given the rhetoric coming from both sides, any such deal could easily lead to a more formally divided Libya.

Beyond that, a deal between the government in Tripoli and Turkey last year precipitated a still-ongoing maritime boundary dispute in the Mediterranean between Libya and Turkey and other countries in the region, including Egypt, Greece, and Italy. Just yesterday, the Greek and Italian Prime Ministers signed their own competing maritime agreement.

Its perhaps no surprise then that the Greeks and the Italians are leading the European Union effort to try to stop the flow of arms into the conflict, which, so far, has largely benefitted Turkish ambitions. Turkey, Italy, and Greece are all members of the NATO alliance, but Turkey is not a member of the European Union.

The myriad competing interests at play look set to continue making it difficult to bring Libya's civil war to an end that satisfies all the parties involved. How the ongoing fight for Sirte plays out now could have a significant impact on how the conflict continues to evolve in the coming months.
 
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Turkey conducts ‘show of force’ air and naval drill in Libyan waters

Turkey conducts ‘show of force’ air and naval drill in Libyan waters Open in fullscreen
The New Arab Staff & Agencies
Turkey conducts ‘show of force’ air and naval drill in Libyan waters
Turkish warplanes participated in the drill [Getty]

Date of publication: 12 June, 2020
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The Turkish navy has conducted an air and naval exercise in the sea off Libya, in what state news agency Anadolu calls a ‘show of force’ amid heightened Mediterranean tensions.



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Turkey, navy, air force, Libya, Mediterranean, tension



Turkey's military conducted an air and naval exercise in the eastern Mediterranean, its defence ministry said Friday, in an apparent show of force linked to the Libyan conflict.

The drill, which lasted for eight hours Thursday, was dubbed an "Open Sea Training" exercise by the ministry in a statement that did not mention Libya directly.

Eight frigates and corvettes participated, along with 17 planes that flew from Eskisehir in central Turkey on a 2,000-km (1,250-mile) round trip, it said.

The private NTV broadcaster said the exercise was held in Libyan waters but did not offer any explanation.

Read also: France and Turkey's growing rivalry in the Middle East

The defence ministry reported that the exercise was "conducted successfully", sharing photographs and videos of the F-16 fighter jets and warships in action.

Turkish state news agency Anadolu dubbed the drill a "show of force".

The exercise came as tensions grow in the eastern Mediterranean owing to the conflict in Libya, and a dispute with Cyprus and Greece over offshore hydrocarbon resources.

Turkey has already sent ships to search for oil and gas off the divided island of Cyprus.

Turkey backs the UN-recognised Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, which has been under attack by military strongman Khalifa Haftar since April 2019.

Haftar is supported by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, with whom Turkey's relations are strained, as well as by Russia.

In March, there were reports that Egypt had formed a naval commando force to attack Turkish ships off the coast of Libya.

Momentum in the conflict changed after Ankara sent Syrian fighters, drones and military advisors to Libya after signing maritime and security agreements with Tripoli.

GNA forces have in recent weeks recaptured towns in western Libya that had been seized by pro-Haftar militias, who had tried to march on the capital last year.

On Wednesday, a Turkish warship prevented a new EU naval mission enforcing the Libya arms embargo from checking a suspect freighter off the war-torn country's coast.

english.alaraby.co.uk

Turkey conducts ‘show of force’ drill in Libyan waters

The Turkish navy has conducted an air and naval exercise in the sea off Libya, in what state news agency Anadolu calls a ‘show of force’ amid heightened Mediterranean tensions.
english.alaraby.co.uk english.alaraby.co.uk
 
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Egypt’s Sisi, France's Macron discuss latest developments in Libya, Cairo declaration - Politics - Egypt

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Egypt’s Sisi, France's Macron discuss latest developments in Libya, Cairo declaration
Ahram Online , Friday 12 Jun 2020

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi discussed in a phone call Friday with France's Emmanuel Macron the latest developments in Libya, including Egypt’s initiative to end the crisis in the neighboring North African country, the Egyptian presidency said.

Sisi briefed his French counterpart on the ongoing Egyptian efforts to reach a political settlement to the crisis in Libya in light of the "Cairo Declaration," presidency spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.

Egypt's proposal, which it made last week, called for a ceasefire that would pave the way for electing a leadership council for Libya. The initiative also called for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Libya.

Several powers welcomed the proposal, including the United States, Russia, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Macron also welcomed the Cairo Declaration, highlighting its importance in prioritizing a political solution and heaping praise on Egypt's efforts to restore peace in Libya.

According to Rady, the two presidents agreed to continue their joint coordination to put the provisions of the Cairo Declaration into effect, including supporting the Libyan National Army (LNA) in fighting terrorism and armed groups.

The Cairo plan came after the recent collapse of an offensive launched by LNA commander Khalifa Haftar in April 2019 to capture Libyan capital Tripoli, further extending the Government of National Accord’s (GNA) control of most of northwest Libya.

Sisi and Macron also discussed developing joint cooperation in various fields and enhancing the "distinct relations" between both countries, Rady added.
 
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Turkey and Russia put off talks expected to tackle Libya and Syria

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Russia and Turkey have postponed ministerial-level talks which were expected to focus on Libya and Syria, where the two countries support opposing sides in long-standing conflicts. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his ...
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Turkey and Russia put off talks expected to tackle Libya and Syria
Thomson Reuters Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu in Ankara and Maria Kiselyova in Moscow
June 14, 2020 06:32 am

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Russia and Turkey have postponed ministerial-level talks which were expected to focus on Libya and Syria, where the two countries support opposing sides in long-standing conflicts.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov decided to put off the talks during a phone call on Sunday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

"The two countries deputy ministers will continue contacts and talks in the period ahead. Minister-level talks will be held at a later date," the ministry said in a statement.

Lavrov and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had been set to visit Istanbul for the discussions. The Russian foreign ministry said discussion will be held on the date of the ministers' meeting.

The United Nations said this week that warring sides had begun new ceasefire talks in Libya, where Ankara supports an internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), whose forces have in recent weeks repelled an assault on Tripoli by the Libyan National Army (LNA).

Moscow, along with the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, backs the LNA in the long-running Libyan conflict.

In Syria, Russia supports Syrian President Bashar al Assad's forces, while Turkey backs opposition fighters.

Although a Turkish-Russian brokered deal three months ago produced a ceasefire that halted fighting in northwest Syria's Idlib, air strikes have once again hit the region in the last week.
 
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Turkish Troops Deployed to Syria Test Positive for COVID-19: Report - World news - Tasnim News Agency

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A total of 140 Turkish soldiers and police officers deployed to the mainly Kurdish-populated northern Syrian city of Afrin and elsewhere in the country’s Idlib province have tested positive for the coronavirus, a report said.
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Turkish Troops Deployed to Syria Test Positive for COVID-19: Report
June, 14, 2020 - 16:43

Governor of Turkey's southernmost province of Hatay, Rahmi Dogan, said 120 police officers in Afrin and 20 soldiers at Idlib Air Battalion have been infected with the virus, Turkish media reported.

According to Dogan, there were no confirmed cases among civilians in those areas.

Cases of infection with the new coronavirus in Syria stand at 177, and the death toll is inching close to 10.

The number of people infected with COVID-19 across the world has surpassed 7,895,000 and the death toll has exceeded 432,000.

Turkish-backed militants were deployed to northern Syria last October after Turkish military forces launched a cross-border invasion in a declared attempt to push the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militants away from border areas.

Ankara views the US-backed YPG as a terrorist organization tied to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been seeking an autonomous Kurdish region in Turkey since 1984.
 
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