4 – 10 November: Several passengers from Benghazi arrested at Tripoli’s Mitiga airport

Nov 11, 2020 | Libyan actors

On 4 November, LNA Commander Khalifa Haftar reportedly launched, during a meeting with top-level political and security officials, an operation in Benghazi to expand joint security cooperation. According to a statement by the LNA General Command, the operation was intended to ensure rule of law and security, eradicate crime and arrest all wanted persons and figures who work to inflame public opinion.

Also on 4 November, clashes erupted in Tarhouna after armed forces belonging to the Government of National Accord (GNA) raided the headquarters of a local Tarhouna militia, which the GNA said was practicing torture, extortion and kidnapping.

On 5 November, the military spokesman of the GNA, Abdul Hadi Dara, issued a statement claiming ‘the presence of a group of Russian Wagner mercenaries in the 30th school in the city of Sirte.’ Dara added that the Libyan National Army (LNA)’s 9th Brigade had also allegedly ‘destroyed’ the Ouagadougou conference halls in Sirte, reportedly some of the city’s most prominent landmarks and the location of the planned next round of 5+5 Joint Military Committee (JMC) talks.

The same day, it was reported that Turkish security sources had said Turkish troops would remain in Libya ‘for as long as the Government of National Accord wishes.’

On 6 November, several citizens arriving at Tripoli’s Mitiga airport from Benina Airport in Benghazi were arrested on charges of taking part in the 2019 attack on Tripoli. At least one traveller was reportedly followed to his destination in Tripoli and then arrested, while the others were arrested at the airport upon arrival. Sources claimed that Tripoli’s Nawasi brigade was responsible for the arrest, and had allegedly conducted the arrests to put pressure on eastern forces to release detainees allied to the brigade. The GNA Ministry of Interior and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) both strongly condemned the arrest.