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On February 2nd, the UN-assigned Government of National Accord (GNA) began an apparent counter-offensive of its own, reportedly carrying out heavy shelling on Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA).
The GNA reported that shelling was carried out in the area of Bakhlet Al-Furjan, in Eastern Tripoli.
عاجل | الإعلام الحربي لبركان الغضب: مدفعية الجيش تستهدف تجمعا لعناصر وآليات مليشيات حفتر بخلة الفرجان. pic.twitter.com/ZOQIsoGlyF
— ليبيا بانوراما (@lpc_ly) February 2, 2020
It also targeted LNA positions west of Sirte, reportedly killing “many.”
#عاجل | آمر غرفة عمليات سرت الجفرة إبراهيم بيت المال للأحرار: مدفعيتنا استهدفت مليشيات حفتر في الوشكه أسفر عن سقوط قتلى وجرحى
— Libya Alahrar TV – قناة ليبيا الأحرار (@libyaalahrartv) February 2, 2020
On top of shelling, there were also airstrikes carried out by the GNA.
عاجل | الناطق باسم غرفة العمليات الميدانية سرت والجفرة أحمد القاضي لبانوراما: سلاح الجو نفذ ضربات دقيقة على الوشكة غرب سرت خلفت مقتل قيادي عسكري لحفتر. pic.twitter.com/VauGJWjH4O
— ليبيا بانوراما (@lpc_ly) February 2, 2020
As it has been known for a while, Turkey reinforced the GNA fighters with militants who were deployed from Syria, such a group was geolocated driving in Tripoli.
geolocation of syrian fighters driving in tripoli
32.831624, 13.130195https://t.co/BjsLhUeIhK pic.twitter.com/wuRM3Jp6Qy— il kanguru (@il_kanguru) February 3, 2020
The LNA did not sit idly and carried out its own shelling and airstrikes on GNA positions, west of Sirte, at Abu Qarayn, and also east of Misrata.
سلاح الجو يقصف تجمعات المليشيات شرق #مصراته
— غصة الخوارج (@LiBya_73) January 31, 2020
شن سلاح الجو في الجيش الوطني الليبي غارات جوية على قوات الأمن الوطني بالقرب من أبو غرين.
— الخبر من مصدره (@News_F_S) January 31, 2020
It also reinforced its hold on Sirte, sending in more reinforcements.
More #LNA reinforcements being sent to #Sirte pic.twitter.com/uuWuo7eEFe
— Ali Ahmed (@LibyaPro2) January 31, 2020
On the diplomatic front, Algerian President Abdelmeguid Taboun said that “Foreign fighters must be removed from Libya and arms flow prevented.”
He and Tunisian president Kais Saied agreed that a number of meetings between the Libyan parties must be hosted in order to avoid a further crisis.
#BREAKING
Tunisia President Kais Saied & his Algerian counterpart Abdelmajid Tebboune agree on hosting a number of meetings between Libyan parties. #Libya pic.twitter.com/emz4p7gn6c— Libya Review (@LibyaReview) February 2, 2020
The UAE Foreign Minister accused Turkey of meddling into Arab affairs and that it has no place doing so.
عاجل | وزير الدولة الإماراتي للشؤون الخارجية: مفردات المسؤولين الأتراك تسعى للتغطية على واقع أن أنقرة هي التي تتدخل في الشأن العربي وتعيد إنتاج أوهام استعمارية ولى زمنها
— العين الإخبارية – عاجل (@AlainBRK) February 2, 2020
Following the statement by the UAE, a IL76TD cargo plane delivered undisclosed cargo, but likely military equipment to Libya.
AZee Air IL76TD heading #Libya from #UAE pic.twitter.com/GZuQJfA3xT
— Manu Gómez (@GDarkconrad) February 3, 2020
The ceasefire has completely collapsed, and any further diplomatic steps are likely to take place in mid-March, as German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that a meeting had been planned for then.
أعلن وزير الخارجية الألماني أن اجتماعًا حول ليبيا سيعقد في منتصف مارس
— الخبر من مصدره (@News_F_S) February 2, 2020
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