U.S. re-urged foreign forces’ withdrawal from Libya

Washington reiterated its call to foreign countries including Turkey and Russia to withdraw from Libya.

“The empty logic of military escalation has failed. It is long past time for foreign countries sending mercenaries and weapons that harm innocent Libyans,” U.S. President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Friday.

Libya’s warring sides signed an agreement for a permanent ceasefire in all areas of the country on Oct.23, bringing a possible end to a year-long battle for the capital Tripoli. According to the U.N.-backed ceasefire agreement, foreign troops and mercenaries were to pull out of Libya within three months.

The U.S. initially in late January, called for the immediate withdrawal of Russian and Turkish forces from Libya, after a deadline for them to leave was ignored. Later in February, in a response to Washington, Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan said that the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Libya will be discussed only if other foreign troops are withdrawn from country.

Sullivan in a written statement, asked foreign countries to respect a peaceful political transition in Libya.

On behalf of President Biden, Sullivan also congratulated the Libyan people on establishing a Government of National Unity that will guide Libya to national elections on Dec.24, 2021.

“The United States stands with all those committed to elections and in support of United Nations mediation and together with our international partners, we will promote accountability for any parties that seek to undermine the electoral roadmap Libyans have established,” Sullivan said.

“Now is the opportunity for Libyans to lay down their arms, resolve their differences peacefully, subscribe to a new era of law and order, and write for themselves a more stable and prosperous chapter in their history.”

Libya’s civil war has been ongoing since 2011 when a NATO-led intervention toppled Muammar al-Gadhafi regime, pushing the country into chaos. The North African state split into two factions - the United Nations recognised Government of National Accords (GNA) in Tripoli and rebel General Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA).

Turkey is a firm supporter of the Tripoli-based GNA, headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, in its fight against General Haftar’s self-styled LNA forces, which are supported by Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, among others.

Turkey’s increased military involvement in Libya since December 2019 - through the deployment of military and intelligence personnel, delivery of drones, and the dispatching of hundreds of mercenaries from Syria - tipped the balance of the conflict in favour of the GNA.

According to U.N. reports, there are about ten foreign bases on Libyan soil and thousands of mercenaries dispatched by Turkey, Russia and other countries.