The Libyan Supreme Council of State issued a written statement condemning the efforts of Haftar’s forces to expand their control over strategically important areas in the southwest of the country and neighboring countries. It was emphasized that this military movement took place without the knowledge of the Libyan army and relevant authorities. The statement said: “Such movements have the potential to escalate into armed conflict that could threaten the current ceasefire agreement and efforts to unify military institutions, and could lead to the collapse of the political process.”
The head of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed al-Menfi, who serves as the commander-in-chief of the Libyan army, called on the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the National Unity Government, Abdulhamid Dibeiba, and the General Staff to increase security measures. He also called on the United Nations (UN) and the international community to take a clear stance against such illegal military movements.
General Staff’s State of Alertness
According to reports in the Libyan media, the Deputy Chief of Staff of Libya, Saladin al-Nimroush, has ordered an increase in the level of preparedness in the Shuweirif region in the south of the country to prevent a possible attack. The strategically important Hamada al-Hamra oil field is located in the Shuweirif region, 420 kilometers south of the capital Tripoli. This increases the importance of military mobility and security measures in the region.
