International actors
Tracking developments of international actors in Libya’s security space including military activity, the presence of foreign operatives and diplomacy pertaining to Libya’s security.
12 September – 18 September: UN and US Sanction Ibrahim Jadhran
On 11 September, the UN Security Council Committee sanctioned rebel militant Ibrahim Jadhran. The following day, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control also sanctioned Jadhran for his attacks on the Oil Crescent.
5 September – 11 September: Italian Foreign Minister meets with Khalifa Haftar
On 10 September, Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi held a meeting with Libyan National Army Commander Khalifa Haftar in al-Rajma, Benghazi.
29 August – 4 September: US AFRICOM confirm airstrike on suspected ISIS fighter in Bani Walid
On 28 August, US AFRICOM said it had killed a suspected ISIS fighter in an airstrike in Bani Walid. UNSMIL held a meeting on 4 September with all involved parties in Tripoli to try and reach a ceasefire agreement.
22 – 28 August: AFRICOM strikes suspected ISIS fighter in Bani Walid
On 28 August, US AFRICOM said it had killed a suspected ISIS fighter in an airstrike in Bani Walid in coordination with the GNA. It didn’t name the person who was killed, but local residents named him as Walid Bu Hariba, a Libyan from Sirte.
15 August – 21 August: UN condemns militias attacking sovereign institutions
On 19 August, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) issued a statement condemning militia groups acting under the Ministry of Interior of the Government of National Accord (GNA) for attacking sovereign institutions.
8 August – 14 August: HoR declare Italian Ambassador ‘persona non-grata’
On 9 August, the House of Representatives (HoR) Committee of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation declared Italian Ambassador Giuseppe Perrone as a ‘persona non-grata’. The decree is in response to his comments last week that were widely interpreted as dismissing Libyan elections.
1 August – 7 August: South Korea launches naval ship to Libya in “show of force”
On 2 August, South Korean redirected the naval ship “Munmu the Great” from anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden to Libya in order to protect South Korean commercial vessels. This action is thought to be a “show of force” in response to the kidnapping of a Korean technician.
25 July – 31 July: Italy plans to hold international conference on Libya
On 30 July, Italy’s Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, told reporters following a White House meeting with US President Donald Trump that he would be organizing an international conference to look for ways to stabilise Libya.
18 July – 24 July: Libyan-Italian maritime operations centre in Tripoli port proposed
On 18 July, Italian embassy and security officials accompanied the head of the maritime sector branch within the Government of National Accord’s Ministry of Interior for an official visit to Tripoli port and discussed plans to establish a joint Libyan-Italian maritime operations centre in Tripoli port.