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Libyan Gazette Weekly News Digest 06/06: “PM Sarraj: Libya Will Defeat ISIS with Its Own Forces”

News Digest 
June 6, 2016

Your top stories from the past week:

GNA: EU Ships in Libyan Waters Would Not Help Libyan StabilityGNA: EU Ships in Libyan Waters Would Not Help Libyan Stability

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff) The UN-backed Government of National Accord’s (GNA) envoy to Rome stated on Tuesday that Libya would not allow foreign ships access into its territorial waters to stop human traffickers because the presence of European ships could hinder the new government’s efforts at garnering support within the country. The GNA’s ambassador to Rome, Ahmed Elmabrouk Safar, …

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700 ISIS Militants Killed by Unity Government Since April700 ISIS Militants Killed by Unity Government Since April

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff) Mohamed al-Gasri, the spokesman for Operation Strong Foundation (Albinyan Almarsous) said on saturday that Libyan forces killed at least 700 ISIS fighters since the unity government’s operations room against the extremist group was established in April. In addition, Gasri affirmed that there were no foreign troops battling against ISIS in Libya, and that only Libyan …

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UN Warns Against the Targeting of Civilians in BenghaziUN Warns Against the Targeting of Civilians in Benghazi

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff) In an open letter published on Saturday, the head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Martin Kobler warned that any attacks committing by the various militias currently fighting in Benghazi which targeted civilians could amount to war crimes. Kobler expressed his concern about the “repeated violations of international humanitarian law, some of …

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Two Armed Groups in Eastern Libya Join Unity Government ForcesTwo Armed Groups in Eastern Libya Join Unity Government Forces

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff) Two major armed groups in eastern Libya announced their support of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) on Saturday as unity government forces capture Al-Gurdabiyah airbase from ISIS militants in Sirte. The Special Anti-terrorist Force and the Military Intelligence Brigade, who were once allied with General Khalifa Haftar, have decided to join the unity …

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PM Sarraj: Libya Will Defeat ISIS with Its Own ForcesPM Sarraj: Libya Will Defeat ISIS with Its Own Forces

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff) Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj said in an interview with Reuters on Friday that unity government forces will be leading the campaign to defeat ISIS. Sarraj said that the UN-backed Government of National Accord’s (GNA) army battling ISIS in Sirte currently consists of forces mainly from the western city of Misrata and the eastern city …

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Breaking News: Libyan Army Capture Key Air Base From ISISBreaking News: Libyan Army Capture Key Air Base From ISIS

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff) Forces from the unity government’s Operation Strong Foundation (Albinyan Almarsous) have taken hold of the Al-Gurdabiyah air base in Sirte on Saturday, after engaging in heavy clashes with ISIS militants which killed four soldiers and wounded 16. “Our units also involved in clashes with ISIS terrorists in Al-Gurdabiyah area and consequently took control of Algardabiya …

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Protest in Tripoli’s Martyrs Square Amid Liquidity CrisisProtest in Tripoli’s Martyrs Square Amid Liquidity Crisis

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff) Protesters gathered outside Joumhouria Bank in Tripoli’s Martyrs Square Hundreds of citizens gathered in Tripoli’s Martyrs Square on Wednesday to protest against the ongoing liquidity crisis in Libya. The demonstration occurred on the same day that the Central Bank in the eastern city of Bayda announced that its new banknotes, which were printed in Russia, …

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Libyan Migrant Crisis: 85 Bodies Wash Up Near Zuwara LibyaLibyan Migrant Crisis: 85 Bodies Wash Up Near Zuwara Libya

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff) The bodies of at least 85 migrants who drowned while trying to cross the Mediterranean on unsafe and overcrowded boats were found washed up ashore in western Libya near the city of Zuwara on Thursday. It has been reported that more than 1000 migrants have died this week trying to cross the Mediterranean in hopes …

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Update: 10 GNA troops killed and 45 wounded in Wednesday’s Clashes with ISISUpdate: 10 GNA troops killed and 45 wounded in Wednesday’s Clashes with ISIS

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff) Ten Government of National Accord (GNA) soldiers were killed and 45 wounded in heavy clashes with ISIS militants on Wednesday close to ISIS stronghold Sirte. Earlier on Wednesday, Operation Strong Foundation (Albinyan Almarsos) troops said that they were able to take full control of the Al Khaleej Power Plant, which is 15 kilometres west of …

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French Firm Wins $500m Oil Deal In LibyaFrench Firm Wins $500m Oil Deal In Libya

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff)   French firm Technip announced Tuesday that it was awarded a major natural gas field development contract initially worth $500 million to rebuild a major oil drilling platform off the coast of Libya. This would be the UN-backed Government of National Accord’s (GNA) biggest business deal since it arrived in Tripoli two months ago. The …

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3 Soldiers Killed and 10 Wounded as Army Recaptures Steam Station From ISIS3 Soldiers Killed and 10 Wounded as Army Recaptures Steam Station From ISIS

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff) A photo taken by Operation Strong Foundation forces showing the front of the Al Khaleej Steam Station   The operations room for Albinyan Almarsos (Operation Strong Foundation) announced that their troops have advanced on all axes around the administrative borders of Sirte after heavy clashes with ISIS militants on Wednesday, which killed three and injured …

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Libyan Businessmen Detained for Nearly Two Years In the UAE Acquitted of all ChargesLibyan Businessmen Detained for Nearly Two Years In the UAE Acquitted of all Charges

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff) Four Libyan nationals, including two Libyan Americans, and a Libyan Canadian who were detained in the United Arab Emirates for nearly two years were acquitted on Monday of charges that they illegally raised funds for a foreign entity and took hostile actions against a foreign country. Libyan Canadian Salim Alaradi, 47, Libyan American Kamal Eldarat, …

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UN Envoy Martin Kobler: The fight against ISIS Must be a LIbyan Fight and a United FightUN Envoy Martin Kobler: The fight against ISIS Must be a LIbyan Fight and a United Fight

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff) Special Representative of the Secretary General Martin Kobler in a meeting in Paris on Tuesday urged Libya’s rival factions to unite alongside the Government of National Accord (GNA) in the battle against ISIS and stop fighting each other. “The fight against ISIS, which is the number one enemy, must be a Libyan fight and a …

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Unity Government Forces Liberate Another Town from ISISUnity Government Forces Liberate Another Town from ISIS

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff)   The Libyan Army announced that the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), who are allied with the Government of National Accord (GNA), have taken control of Nawfiliya in eastern Libya from ISIS militants. The PFG forces are fighting ISIS on behalf of the GNA in the east and captured the town of Ben Jawad on …

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Algerian Soldiers Discover Weapons cache along Libyan BorderAlgerian Soldiers Discover Weapons cache along Libyan Border

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff) The Algerian Defense Ministry announced on Sunday that Algerian soldiers discovered a cache of weapons and heavy artillery along the Libyan border. Algeria’s Defense Ministry said that the army made the discovery in the vicinity of Bordj Badji Mokhtar, in Adrar province, which is 1543 kilometres from Algiers. Thousands of Algerian troops are stationed …

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Turkey To Reopen Embassy in Tripoli - Delivers 10 Tons of Food and Medicine to LibyaTurkey To Reopen Embassy in Tripoli – Delivers 10 Tons of Food and Medicine to Libya

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff) Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (center L) meets Tripoli Mayor Abdurrauf Hasan and other city councilors in Tripoli on May 30   Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj on Monday to express Turkey’s support for the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) and discuss restarting diplomatic ties between the two …

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Arab League Meeting in Cairo Reaffirms Arab Support of GNAArab League Meeting in Cairo Reaffirms Arab Support of GNA

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff) Arab Foreign Ministers held a meeting in Cairo on Saturday to discuss politically and financially supporting the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj attended the meeting, which also discussed the Palestine-Israeli conflict and Yemen. The Arab League Council reaffirmed their support and recognition of the GNA as the legitimate governing body …

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5 PFG Fighters Killed and 18 Wounded Recapturing Coastal Town From ISIS5 PFG Fighters Killed and 18 Wounded Recapturing Coastal Town From ISIS

(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff) Libya’s Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), who control and protect eastern Libyan oil terminals, said that its forces captured the town of Ben Jawad from ISIS militants on Monday in a battle which killed 5 and injured 18 PFG fighters. The PFG are a militant group under the command of Ibrahim Jathran, who was a …

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Libyan Armed Forces Positioned Around ISIS Held SirteLibyan Armed Forces Positioned Around ISIS Held Sirte

An explosives expert dismantling bombs made by ISIS militants on Friday The operations room for Albinyan Almarsous (Operation Strong Foundation) said on Saturday that Libyan forces had finishing sweeping the area for any hidden mines or explosives left by ISIS fighters in Wadi Alloud and Abu Najaim town southwest of Sirte. Libyan troops are currently stationed around all three frontlines …

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GNA: EU Ships in Libyan Waters Would Not Help Libyan Stability

GNA Forces Take Control of Al-Saadi Military Camp in Sirte