Libya caught between ceasefire welcome and terrorist backlash fears

Hossam al-Haddad

The United Nations, Russia, Germany and the United Arab Emirates have welcomed the ceasefire agreement signed recently by rival Libyan parties in Geneva.

Nevertheless, Turkey has committed the first violation of the agreement, soon after signing it.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said the agreement is a decisive step on the road to achieving peace in Libya.

The United Nations, he added, would prepare a mechanism for overseeing the implementation of the ceasefire with support from the Security Council.

Russia praised the agreement, describing it as an important step on the road to overcoming the Libyan crisis.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the agreement also paves the road for starting a comprehensive political dialogue in Libya.

The UAE welcomed the agreement. UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash wrote on Twitter that the agreement gives hopes about achieving a political settlement in Libya.

However, Turkey committed the first violation against the ceasefire agreement, only 24 hours after it was signed.

Military training between troops of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) and Turkey in the light of a security cooperation memo, keep going, the Turkish Ministry of Defense said.

The ministry posted photos of Turkish officers training members of the militias affiliated with the GNA.

Some Libyan analysts expected, meanwhile, terrorist groups to react angrily to the ceasefire agreement in the coming period.

An informed source from Tripoli said the commanders of militias in the Libyan capital held a secret meeting, following the signing of the agreement.

The agreement was shocking for militias in the Libyan capital, some experts said.

They expected terrorist organizations to target American interests in Turkey.