8-14 July: HOR approves Egyptian intervention in Libya

Jul 16, 2020 | Libyan actors

On 13 July, the House of Representatives (HoR) released a statement declaring that the Egyptian armed forces have the right to interfere in Libya to protect Libyan and Egyptian national security should they see an imminent threat, citing the ‘threats posed by the Turkish occupation’ as a direct threat to Libya and neighbouring countries. The statement acknowledged Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi’s statement to the Libyan tribes and called for ‘concerted efforts between the two sisters Libya and Egypt to ensure the defeat of the invading occupiers and preserve our security.’ The statement also reaffirmed the HoR’s status as the only legitimate body in Libya and the need for fair distribution of wealth and Libyan oil revenues.

On 13 July, Government of National Accord (GNA) commander of the Western Region Joint Operations Room, Major General Usama Juwaili, issued an official decree to create a new joint force to be led by Brigadier General al-Feturi Gharibel, to secure the western region. The force is composed of armed groups from the three GNA military regions (Tripoli, Western and Central) that were involved in the defence of Tripoli against the Libyan National Army (LNA).  It will be composed of 500 military personnel.

On 11 July, the UN Support Mission to Libya (UNSMIL) held a virtual meeting with the GNA Ministry of Interior to discuss Security Sector Reform (SSR) and Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) efforts. According to an UNSMIL statement, both ‘agreed on resuming the activities of the support programmes and projects – that were impacted following the outbreak of hostilities in April 2019 – and underlined the linkage between SSR and economic reforms.’

On 12 July, the head of the GNA, Fayez al-Serraj, met with the GNA military region commanders. The commander of the GNA Sirte and Jufra Operations Room, Ibrahim Bait al-Mal, claimed the meeting culminated in the bolstering of aerial defence capabilities and technical support around Sirte. On 12 July, LNA forces continued to mobilise to Sirte with various photos circulating on social media showing convoys of equipment, including a Pantsire-S1/SA-22 Greyhound. On 9 July, the GNA Sirte-Jufra Operations Room announced that al-Wishka, Abu Grein, and Buwairat al-Hasson were part of military zones/area.

On 8 and 9 July, clashes occurred between the Janzour Knights (Fursan Janzur) and the Fakar family militia thought to be linked to the Abu Salim Central Security Force (Ghinaywa militia) in the al-Jafara area of Janzour (western Tripoli), that resulted in at least 10 people being killed.  The dispute is said to have been over the control of petrol stations and distribution of diesel fuel.