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.
UNSMIL confirms Barghathi’s death in LNA custody
On 21 December, UNSMIL confirmed in a statement the death of former Government of National Accord (GNA) Minister of Defense Mahdi al-Barghathi and some of his companions in Libyan National Army (LNA) custody in Benghazi. UNSMIL expressed its concern over the death of...
US meets with key actors to push for Bathily’s initiative
The US has held a flurry of meetings with key actors as part of the push for Bathily’s latest initiative to reach fruition. On 20 and 21 December, US Special Envoy Richard Norland and Charge d’Affaires Jeremy Berdnt meet separately with a raft of key players including...
Drone strike destroys Russian transport aircraft at al-Jufra airbase
On 15 December, it became known that a civilian Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft, which was presumably operating on behalf of the Russian Wagner Group, was destroyed by a combat drone at al-Jufra Air Base, probably on 12 December. It is also possible that the attack...
UN and EU call for accountability on human rights
On 10 December, to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called for ‘human rights to be protected and promoted as an enabler for Libya’s democratic transformation.’ UNSMIL expressed concern...
HRW calls for independent inquiry into Derna flooding
On 6 December, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that an independent inquiry is needed to review failings in Libyan authorities’ management of catastrophic flooding in eastern Libya in September 2023, which killed thousands and destroyed whole neighbourhoods in Derna and...
IRINI commander says operation is a success
On 5 December, Italian Rear Admiral Stefano Turchetto, currently EU Operation Commander of Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI, praised the support given to his mission by the EU members, including ‘military units’ and intelligence. He stated that the current ‘Middle Eastern...
Russian Deputy MoD visits Haftar in Benghazi
On 2 December, Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar received the Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yunusbek Yevkurov in Benghazi (on his third visit this year). The LNA General Command said the two discussed ways for mutual cooperation between Libya and...
GNU sends Hamas prisoners to Turkey
On 1 December, the Government of National Union (GNU) released four members of Hamas - Marwan al-Ashqar, Nasib Shabir, Muayyad Abed, and Baraa al-Ashqar - who had been held in detention since 2016 in the Rada-controlled prison at Mitiga airport and transferred them to...
Turkey extends troop mandate in Libya
On 30 November, the Turkish parliament approved the presidential motion extending the Turkish army’s mandate in Libya for an additional 24 months, starting on 2 January 2024.