LNA vows to open ‘gates of hell’ on Turkey’s hirelings around Sirte, al-Jufra

Mustafa Kamel

Libya seems to brace for more tension in the coming days because of Turkey’s continual military buildup around the northern city of Sirte and the central city of al-Jufra.

This comes at a time international parties are calling for calm in the Arab state and a resumption of the political process in it.

Turkey is apparently bent on controlling the Oil Crescent. However, the Libyan National Army (LNA) says it is ready for any Turkish-backed attacks on Sirte and al-Jufra.

The 110th battalion of the LNA declared the vicinity of the two cities a military zone. It called on civilians living in the area to practice caution and stay away from potential battlefields.

Turkish obstinacy

Turkey declared, meanwhile, that it would continue to support the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) on the road to controlling all Libyan territories, especially Sirte and al-Jufra. A ceasefire in Libya, it says, is conditional on the LNA’s withdrawal from the two cities.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu declared a short time ago that a military operation would be launched soon for the GNA to take control of Sirte.

He unveiled a Russian ceasefire initiative. Nevertheless, he said the GNA insists that the LNA pull out of Sirte and al-Jufra to the pre-2015 lines.

Growing ambitions

Çavuşoğlu’s remarks come at a time his country keeps transferring mercenaries to Libya.

According to LNA Spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari, Turkey had so far transferred 17,000 Syrian mercenaries to Tripoli.

It provided these mercenaries, he said, with modern arms and heavy weapons.

The branch of the Muslim Brotherhood in Libya controls western Libya in coordination with the Muslim Brotherhood in Turkey, al-Mesmari said.

Head of the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Rami Abdel Rahman said Turkey had already transferred 16,000 Syrian nationals to Libya.

Nevertheless, 5,600 of these Syrians returned to their country after their contracts came to an end, Abdel Rahman said.

He added that over 10,000 Syrians still remain in Libya and are being used in preparations for possible battles around Sirte and al-Jufra.