The arms embargo violations persist in Libya amid the denouncement of the international community.
Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Ghassan Salame decried on Thursday the presence of foreign militants in the country without indicating their nationalities stating that the arms embargo violations recorded 110.
A French military source told AFP on Thursday that Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier spotted on Wednesday a Turkish frigate escorting a cargo ship, called Bana and sailing under a Lebanese Flag, delivering armored vehicles to Tripoli, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.
The publication also reported the statements of “an informed source” revealing that Turkey started establishing a military base in Mitiga airport, the only functional airport western Libya since 2014, and that Turkish military and intelligence personnel are present in the intended base.
The source added that Turkish officers contribute in running the operations command center of militias protecting the Government of National Accord (GNA), which is a non-elected UN-recognized interim government.
Asharq Al-Awsat also mentioned reports on Turkey’s endeavors to hire more mercenaries and militants from Kenya and Somalia to back the GNA.
In the UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting, GNA’s ambassador to the United Nations Taher El Sonni accused France of providing the Libyan National Army (LNA) with Javelin missiles. He also alleged the UAE of breaching UNSC resolutions 11 times in Libya by giving LNA armoured vehicles, air defence system and drones, as reported by The Libya Observer.
The United Kingdom communicated with fellow UN Security Council members an amended draft on Libya calling for mercenaries withdrawal from Libya and asserting the importance of the role of the African Union (AU) and the Arab League, as reported by AFP.
The initial draft released on January 24 did not consist of any mention of mercenaries, and just highlighted the role of neighboring countries and regional organizations in conflict resolution.
France criticized Turkey’s intervention in Libya, and decided to send warships eastern the Mediterrenean amid rising tensions between the latter and Greece over gas reserves.
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