The Spokesperson for the Libyan National Army (LNA), Major General Ahmed Al-Mismari, confirmed that the military operations in the southern part of the country will continue until all objectives are met. Speaking to United Arab Emirates (UAE) Al-Ittihad newspaper, Al-Mismari stated the operations are aimed at securing Libya’s southern border and preventing it from becoming a hub for human trafficking.
The LNA launched a military operation in the southern border region on Friday, with the goal of extending its control and influence, according to an official statement. The army emphasised that Libya will not serve as a launch pad for armed groups or illegal activities that pose threats to its neighbors.
The operation involves a selection of elite forces from the LNA, participating in both ground and air capacities. The army stated that the operation will not cease until its goals are achieved.
The army further pointed out that the ongoing political and security tensions in the Sahel and Sahara regions have contributed to the destabilisation of the area. This is affecting the countries’ abilities to control their land borders. This has enabled movements of terrorist and criminal cells, according to the statement.
The LNA affirmed its commitment to protecting the nation, its citizens, and its economic capabilities, and maintaining stability and security throughout southern Libya. The decision for the ongoing operation comes in light of intelligence reports indicating the urgent need to stabilize the situation in the south.
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Moammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations, each backed by rogue militias and foreign governments.
The current stalemate grew out of the failure to hold elections in December 2021, and the refusal of Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbaiba, who is leading the transitional government, to step down. In response, the country’s eastern-based Parliament appointed a rival Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha, who has for months sought to install his government in Tripoli.
