Member of the Libyan Parliament: Battle looms in the key Libyan cities Sirte and Al-Jufra

A military buildup around the Libyan city of Sirte has raised fears of a major battle for control of the area’s strategic oil reserves.

The Libyan National Army (LNA), which has occupied Sirte since May, accused Turkey of targeting the oil-rich city and supplying militias in the area with weapons.

LNA spokesman Ahmed Al-Mesmari said that western Libya is under total Turkish control.

He said that Turkey aims to reach Libya’s “oil crescent,” a coastal region home to most of its oil export terminals.

The LNA is closely monitoring Turkey’s moves in Sirte and Al-Jufra, he added.

“We expect an attack on Sirte by Turkey and the militias at any time,” Al-Mesmari said.

The map showed areas under the control of Khalifa Haftar, LNA commander, and the Government of National Accord (GNA). It also featured arrows illustrating that Sirte and Al-Jufra are the next targets of the GNA, despite a no-fly zone on the area imposed by the LNA.

The warning came after LNA troops led by Haftar retreated and GNA troops led by Fayez Al-Sarraj, prime minister of the GNA of Libya, advanced.

LNA Spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari revealed earlier today that GNA militias are building military power around the two cities, expecting battles to erupted soon.

The House of Deputies asked Egypt late on Monday to militarily intervene in Libya to protect its own national security and Libya’s national security against the GNA militias and the mercenaries sent to Libya by Turkey.

The Egyptian Armed Forces have the right to militarily intervene in Libya if they deem this necessary for the protection of Egyptian national security, the House of Deputies said in a statement.