https://southfront.org/battle-of-sirte/
The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) and Syrian militant groups with a direct support from Turkey are preparing for a new attempt to capture the port city of Sirte from the Libyan National Army (LNA).
After the first failed attempt earlier this month, Turkish-backed factions have deployed additional reinforcements to the frontline west of the city. This included artillery pieces, battle tanks and a large number of pickups equipped with weapons. LNA warplanes conducted several strikes on GNA military columns moving from Misrata in the area of Abu Qurayn. However, the existing LNA air power appeared to be not enough to stop the military buildup of Turkish-led forces. The intensity of LNA airstrikes also decreased, especially in the countryside of Tripoli, due to the Turkish efforts to set up an air defense network in the GNA-held part of coastline.
Over the past year, the Turkish military has sent a number of KORKUT self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and MIM-23 Hawk medium-range air defense systems to Libya. These systems as well as electronic warfare capabilities of the deployed Turkish military contingent played an important role in breaking of the LNA siege of Tripoli and allowed Turkish combat drones operate relatively freely in its countryside. Now, Turkey is likely seeking to employ a similar approach to besiege and seize Sirte.
The city, with the estimated population of about 128,000, is an important logistical hub and Libya’s main oil export port. In the beginning of January, the LNA led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar shut down export terminals and stopped operations of pipelines from El-Sharara and El-Feel oilfields cutting off the exports of the Tripoli-based National Oil Corporation by about 92%. Then, the LNA said that the GNA used the revenues obtained thanks to oil export to pay for Turkish weapons and Turkey-deployed mercenaries. This move demonstrated the determination of the LNA and the democratically-elected House of Representatives based in Torbuk to push forward their project of the united Libya regardless possible decrease of financial revenues from oil business.
Now, Ankara and its partners in Tripoli are eager to capture Sirte and restart a full-scale oil export under their direct control. If Turkish-led forces achieve this goal, Ankara will get an access to an additional source of revenue to compensate, at least partly, its expenditures for the Libyan intervention.
For the LNA leadership, the possible withdrawal from Sirte will mark the full collapse of its plan to unite Libya under a single administration. So, Haftar forces are also preparing for the battle.
Maybe Turkey is seeking oil….as previous looting from north east Syria is being replaced by USA and SDF and Kurds sending oil to Kurdistan….150 vehicle oil convoy went into Kurd area of Iraq apparently.
Clip from what Pepe calls an “Atlantacist vehicle noted for fresh NATO press handouts”, dated June 12 [with my comments]:
“The Libya conflict has developed into a major proxy war, with Turkey [NATZO member], Qatar [AZC oil corp], Algeria, Tunisia and Italy [NATZO member] backing the GNA, while Egypt, the UAE (Abu-Dhabi) [AZC oil corp], Russia, Greece [NATZO member], Saudi Arabia [AZC oil corp] and France [NATZO member] support Haftar. The United States [AZC & NATZO capo] has been more-or-less neutral in this fray; but in May 2020, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) tweeted imagery apparently confirming the deployment of up to 14 Russian MiG-29 fighter jets and Su-24 bombers from the Russian airbase Hmeimim in Syria to the Libyan airbase of Juffra (see EDM, May 26). AFRICOM implied Moscow is planning a major military deployment in war-torn Libya and has plans to establish permanent military bases.”
My interpretation: the New World Order is beginning to fall apart (as it did in the 1940s) under pressure from Russia’s decisive intervention, both military and ideological. Once again we see it playing out, the Thousand Year Reich of the NWO vs the Multipolar World. NATZO members and AZC serfs are re-aligning themselves on one side or the other, the way U$A, UK and France in the 1940s realigned themselves from supporters of Hitler and Mussolini to antagonists of Hitler and Mussolini.
Haftar was a CIA asset for twenty years and I don’t at all see how he can have suddenly stopped being one. The likelihood is that it’s the same script as the intra-terrorist battles in Syria: the Pentagon’s GNA versus the CIA’s LNA.
Another humanitarian project of NATO and the empire, turning a jewel into a living hell on earth. Given Haftar’s CIA connections, if true, it causes me to feel very uncomfortable with Russia’s involvement if they indeed are involved. Russia was asked for help from Syria. That was a legitimate involvement. I think they should focus on the threats at their doorstep presented by the empire and NATO, and concentrate on strengthening Russia, making life better for their people, increasing local production and concentrating on international trade with their true partners to the east.
Biswarpiya,
They said that of Assad too. (That he was a CIA asset)
The US does not seem to be on Haftar’s side: The US has refused to support a ceasefire in Libya, which was proposed by Egypt who backs Haftar. The UN has now discovered mass graves near Tripoli which will probably be pinned on Haftar…
It seems like a narrative is being prepared in Libya just like in Syria: Evil, secular, military dictator versus brave Islamic freedom fighters…
Assets are used. They barter for something in exchange for what the US wants.
Assad provided Intel and provided “interrogation” services for the CIA.
Assets are disposable.