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.
Renewed concerns of US migrant deportations to Libya
The controversy around US plans to deport migrants with criminal records to Libya has reared its head once more after the US Supreme Court allowed President Trump to resume deportations. On 23 June, the US Supreme Court voted to reverse a lower court order requiring...
Both Libyan governments accuse Greece of violating Libyan sovereignty over oil exploration south of Crete
On 19 June, the Government of National Stability (GNS) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) strongly objected to Greece’s recent move to open an international tender for oil and gas exploration in Mediterranean waters south of Crete, an area both nations claim as their...
IOM reports surge in migrants reaching Europe via Libya
On 17 June, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported the death of six migrants and the disappearance of 60 more on the attempt to cross from Libya to Europe during the first week of June. During the same period, 635 migrants departing from Tripoli,...
GNU condemns Israeli airstrikes against Iran
On 13 June, the Government of National Unity (GNU) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) strongly condemned the Israeli airstrikes against Iran, saying the attacks ‘constitute a flagrant violation" of Iranian sovereignty and "a violation of the rules and principles of...
Italy not liable for actions of Libyan Coast Guard, EU court rules
On 12 June, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Italy cannot be held liable for the actions of the Libyan Coast Guard, rejecting a case filed by a group of immigrants who were rescued from the Mediterranean Sea after their boat sank in 2017 and taken to the...
Saddam Haftar meets with senior political and military leaders in Rome
On 11-13 June, Saddam Haftar, Chief of Staff of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Land Forces and son of the LNA head Khalifa Haftar, visited Italy. During the visit, he met a number of senior political and military leaders. On 12 June, Saddam met with Italy’s Interior...
Sudanese Army accuses LNA of working with RSF during border clashes
On 10 June, the Sudanese Army accused forces loyal to Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar of collaborating with the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in an attack on a border area near the Sudanese-Libyan frontier. The Sudanese Army spokesperson's...
US includes Libya on travel ban list
On 9 June, a new executive order signed by US President Donald Trump went into effect barring nationals from Libya from entering the United States. It also targets Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran,...
Russia about to transfer ships and assets from Syria to eastern Libya, says Italian Admiral
On 8 June, Admiral Credendino gave an interview to the leading Italina newspaper Corriere della Sera, commenting on rumours that Russia was about to transfer a number of ships and assets from Syria to eastern Libya. Credendino, who commanded EUNAVFOR MED Operation...