Weekly Highlights
- Jets hit Libya’s al-Watiya airbase where Turkey may build base, sources say
- US opposes ‘all foreign intervention’ in Libya: Ambassador to Egypt
- NCDC Announces New 71 Cases Of COVID-19
- Libya’s Border Guard announces activation of border checkpoints with Tunisia
- Currency Exchange:
- Bank exchange rate: USD 1 – LYD 1.4022
- Black market exchange rate: USD 1 – LYD 5.94
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Jets hit Libya’s al-Watiya airbase where Turkey may build base, sources say
Warplanes struck overnight at an airbase that was recently recaptured by Libya’s internationally recognised government from eastern forces with help from Turkey, a military source with the eastern forces and a resident nearby said. The strikes were carried out by “unknown aircraft”, the military source with the Libyan National Army (LNA) of eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar said. A resident at the nearby town of Zintan said explosions were heard from the direction of the base. Watiya’s recapture in May by the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli marked the start of a sudden collapse of the LNA’s 14-month assault to seize the capital and its retreat along the coast to the new frontlines. REUTERS
US opposes ‘all foreign intervention’ in Libya: Ambassador to Egypt
The United States opposes “all foreign intervention” in Libya and is engaged in active diplomacy, the US ambassador to Egypt told Al Hadath during an interview. “Let me be very clear, the United States opposes all foreign intervention in Libya,” Jonathan Cohen said. “We believe that it is imperative that a ceasefire be respected, that the UN arms embargo be respected, and that the parties reengage in a political negotiation to bring a Libyan solution under UN auspices to Libya.” He also affirmed that the US is taking action by engaging in “very active diplomacy.” US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had recently discussed Libya with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the Egyptian foreign minister, according to Cohen. AL ARABIYA
NCDC Announces New 71 Cases Of COVID-19
The National Centre FOR Disease control (NCDC) announced last night 71 new cases of COVID-19 infections. The NCDC said it tested a total of 497 of which 225 samples for the public health laboratory Tripoli, Sebha Lab 180 samples, Misrata Lab 70 samples, Zelitin Lab 10 samples, Tripoli University Lab 6 samples, Al-Khadhra Lab 6 samples. It said the results were 426 negative, 71 positive, which 18 new cases, 52 cross infections, and one case was coming from abroad. LANA
Libya’s Border Guard announces activation of border checkpoints with Tunisia
The Chief of Staff of the Border Guards, Major General Nouri Sharata, announced the initiation of border checkpoints with Tunisia, from Ras Ajdir to Emshigag. In a statement reported by the Volcano of Rage Operation on Saturday, he said that the Border Guard is directly responsible for securing borders and fighting illegal immigration and human and fuel smuggling. He added that the border checkpoints were set up by the Border Guard after the liberation of the western region from the Haftar militias. LIBYA OBSERVER
Libya PM Serraj in Malta visit, day after Turkish defence minister talks
Libyan prime minister Fayez el Serraj is visiting Malta on an official visit to discuss security in the Mediterranean as well as irregular immigration from Libya. The visit comes just a day after Serraj met Turkish defence minister Hulusi Akar, who later flew to Malta on a short visit to meet Evarist Bartolo. The meeting with Turkey was considered important in the light of Malta’s overtures to the NATO country. Turkey is actively providing the UN-recognised Government of National Accord in Libya with weaponry and air support in its fight against Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army. MALTA TODAY
USEFUL INFORMATION
List of holidays in Libya 2020
Exchange rates – Libyan Dinar
According to our most recent information (06th July 2020) the Libyan Dinar has the following exchange rates.
The exchange rate from your own bank or credit card company will differ somewhat from the exchange rates as mentioned above. Your bank or credit card company might also apply additional international charges.
LIBYA SECURITY & RISK LEVELS
Global Health Advisory: Do Not Travel. Avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19. Do not travel to Libya due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict.
Crime levels in Libya remain high, including the threat of kidnapping for ransom. Westerners and U.S. citizens have been targets of these crimes.
Terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Libya. Violent extremist activity in Libya remains high, and extremist groups have made threats against U.S. government officials, citizens, and interests. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, hotels, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities.
Outbreaks of violence between competing armed groups can occur with little warning and have the potential to impact U.S. citizens. The capital, Tripoli, and other cities, such as Surman, Al-Jufra, Misrata, Ajdabiya, Benghazi, Sabha, and Dernah, have witnessed fighting among armed groups, as well as terrorist attacks. Hotels and airports frequented by Westerners have been caught in the crossfire. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.
Militia groups sometimes detain travellers for arbitrary reasons, do not grant detainees access to a lawyer or legal process, and do not allow detainees to inform others of their status. U.S. citizens should carry proof of citizenship and valid immigration status at all times but having these documents does not guarantee fair treatment.
Some international and national airports are closed, and flights out of operational airports are sporadic and may be cancelled without warning. The U.S. government is very concerned about the targeting of commercial transportation in Libya and prohibits U.S. commercial aviation operations within Libyan airspace.
LIBYA INCIDENT MAPPING: 30 JUNE – 07 JULY 20
LIBYA – SIGNIFICANT INCIDENTS IN DETAIL
Two demining personnel killed in mine explosion in south Tripoli
Two members of the demining teams have been killed in a mine explosion in Ain Zara in south Tripoli as they were removing mines planted by Khalifa Haftar’s forces in residential areas.
The media office of Volcano of Rage Operation of the Government of National Accord said Sunday that the two men were killed in a mine explosion in Ain Zara, adding that they were working for Free Fields Organization for removing mines and war remnants. On June 10, the joint committee for tracing and documenting human rights violation in Libya said 27 people were killed and 40 others injured in explosions of mines planted by Haftar’s forces in houses of civilians in areas where they were positioned in south Tripoli.
Jets hit Libya’s al-Watiya airbase where Turkey may build base, sources say
Warplanes struck overnight at an airbase that was recently recaptured by Libya’s internationally recognised government from eastern forces with help from Turkey, a military source with the eastern forces and a resident nearby said.
The strikes were carried out by “unknown aircraft”, the military source with the Libyan National Army (LNA) of eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar said. A resident at the nearby town of Zintan said explosions were heard from the direction of the base. Watiya’s recapture in May by the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli marked the start of a sudden collapse of the LNA’s 14-month assault to seize the capital and its retreat along the coast to the new frontlines.
Turkish support was vital to the GNA in turning back the LNA offensive with advanced air defences and drone strikes that targeted Khalifa’s supply lines and troop build-ups. A Turkish source said last month that Turkey was in talks with the GNA to establish two bases in Libya, one of them at Watiya, the most important airbase in western Libya.
REGIONAL REPORTED INCIDENT NUMBERS: 30 JUNE – 07 JULY 20
POLITICAL OVERVIEW
Libyan prime minister Fayez el Serraj is visiting Malta on an official visit to discuss security in the Mediterranean as well as irregular immigration from Libya. The visit comes just a day after Serraj met Turkish defence minister Hulusi Akar, who later flew to Malta on a short visit to meet Evarist Bartolo. The meeting with Turkey was considered important in the light of Malta’s overtures to the NATO country. Turkey is actively providing the UN-recognised Government of National Accord in Libya with weaponry and air support in its fight against Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army. Tripoli insists that Operation Irini, which was set up to enforce the Libyan arms embargo, punishes it by attempting to prevent Turkish supplies from across the Eastern Mediterranean. MALTA TODAY
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said on Saturday that Libya must organise elections through its transitional authorities as a political solution to its ongoing conflict. Speaking to France 24 on Saturday, Tebboune said that “we need to consult with the Libyan people through its institutions,” including tribal ones and others, and hold elections. “The current government is one of these establishments, but things have surpassed it. We have to present institutions that represent all Libyans, hold elections and elect a president and vice president, putting into consideration a balance between all Libyan regions and the adoption of a new constitution,” Tebboune argued. this year, he promised not to take “any personal initiative” outside the framework of the political event. AHRAM
The Turkish Defence Minister, Hulusi Akar, visited Misrata on Saturday, on the second day of his official visit to Libya, which began on Friday, along with the Turkish Chief of General Staff, Yasar Guler. They were received by with the Minister of Interior of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Fathi Bashaga. According to a statement by the Turkish Ministry of Defence, Akar visited the ‘Military Operations Centre’ in Misrata and held talks with Bashaga, along with several Misratan officials, however, no further details were released regarding the talks. LIBYA OBSERVER
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on Friday that his country has decided to reopen its embassy in Libya, reported Russia’s Interfax news agency. The ambassador will, however, be based in Tunisia. Lavrov had received in Moscow on Friday Speaker of the east-based Libyan parliament, Aquila Saleh. “We took a decision to reopen the Russian embassy in Libya, which will at this stage be headed by Charge d’Affaires Jamshed Boltaev,” he said. “He will temporarily be based in Tunisia, but I want to emphasize that his functions include representing Russia across all Libya’s territory.” Lavrov also said a ceasefire in the Libyan conflict, proposed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi alongside Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Haftar in Cairo on June 6, could work alongside decisions taken at an international conference in Berlin regarding the situation in the North African country. AAWSAT
AIRPORTS & BORDERS STATUS
With the country’s Coronavirus cases still increasing, Libya’s Tripoli-based government extended the country’s (west and south) 8pm to 6am curfew for another ten days taking it to 7 July 2020. Fridays & Saturdays are subject to a full 24 hours curfew to help mitigate the increasing spread of COVID 19 transmission.
| Location | Curfew | Details |
| East | From 8pm to 6am | Movement between cities is not allowed |
| West | From 8pm to 6am | |
| South | From 8pm to 6am |