Sarraj Forces Claim Tripoli Victory, Oust Ghwell Loyalists

Armed militias backing Libya’s interim government based in Tripoli announced Tuesday that they made major advances against militias loyal to head of the National Salvation Government, Khalifa Ghwell. The push took place in the direction of Tripoli’s eastern outskirts.

At least four were killed during the clashes, two of which were civilians, said the Libyan health ministry. Tripoli Brigade, an armed faction supporting the Government of National Accord led by Fayez al-Sarraj, reported on its success with taking comprehensive control over the town Castelverde.

The Brigade said it controlled all vital facilities and main gates to the town after completing an operation earlier. For its part the United Nations delegation to Libya said that its security advisor Gen. Paolo Serra reviewed the current national standing with Sarraj deputies and security representatives.

Gen. Serra, according to the international body, stressed the importance of prioritizing the safety of civilians, urging for dialogue to prevail and for a ceasefire to be arranged.

Four people, including two foreign nationals, were killed and 21 others wounded in clashes in Castelverde–located 60 km east of Tripoli– said a statement published by the health ministry of the government. But the ministry did not disclose the nationality of the foreigners.

Libya’s national committee for Human Rights said that other than wounding innocent civilians, clashes resulted in internal displacement and have registered the firing of missiles and the usage of heavy and medium weapons, Grad rockets included.

The committee called on terror militias to retreat and evacuate the area, to spare civilians from the scourge of conflict and to not jeopardize the lives, safety and security of civilians in Castelverde and Tripoli.

Clashes broke out last Sunday in Castelverde, pitting Libya’s prominently rival forces, GNA forces against pro-Ghwell militias. Eyewitnesses said the fighting continued till Tuesday dawn, until the Tripoli Brigade, the largest armed militia backing Sarraj’s council, announced its victory.

More so, Sarraj’s government warned outlawed militias of moving for Tripoli, adding that they had ordered forces to repel any attack.

 On the political side, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Monday10/7/2017 met his Libyan counterpart Mohamed Taher Sayala on the sidelines of the 44th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Cote d'Ivoire. 

Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid said Shoukry said the meeting dealt with ways to boost bilateral relations, recent developments in Libya, as well as regional and  international issues of common concern. For his part, Sayala hailed Egyptian efforts to solve the crisis and activate the political track in Libya.