The Libyan armed forces loyal to the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) are waiting for a political solution to enter the city of Sirte “peacefully”.

The internationally recognised Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) has begun moving its forces and military reinforcements towards the cities of Sirte and Jufra in an effort to recapture the stronghold of renegade General Khalifa Haftar.

Libya’s internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) on Saturday moved fighters closer to Sirte, a gateway to Libya’s main oil terminals that the GNA says it plans to recapture from the eastern-based self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA).

The Joint Operations Room delivered letters to several militia groups in 12 civilian locations in the Tripoli areas of Al-Hadba, Salah al-Din, Sidra Road and Al-Shawk Road, demanding that they evacuate their locations within 24 hours – Libyan state news agency LANA reported yesterday.

The Sirte-Jufra Operations Room said it had seen mercenaries from Russian Wagner Group and Sudanese Janjaweed factions retreating from Houn and Sokna eastward.

The Joint Force, affiliated with the Libyan Army, has given a 48-hour warning to all armed groups in the Salah Al-Din Road, Sidra Road and Al-Shouk Road areas, south of Tripoli, to evacuate residential homes, rest houses and various civilian buildings such as hospitals, ministries, colleges and companies.

The spokesman for Libyan Army forces under the command of the Government of National Accord (GNA) Mohammed Gununu said “it’s time we have crushed the malicious hands toying with Libyan oil resources”.

UNSMIL reported yesterday that it had held a virtual meeting on Saturday (11 Jult) with the Interior Ministry of Libya’s internationally recognized government in Tripoli on Security Sector Reform (SSR) and Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR). The meeting included UNSMIL Acting head Stephanie Williams and Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha.

Libya’s UN-recognised government will agree to a cease-fire only if warlord Khalifa Haftar withdraws his forces from country’s central and western regions, the Turkish foreign minister said, Anadolu Agency reported.

Libya’s Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha held talks via video conference on Sunday with the acting head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Stephanie Williams, to discuss Libyan plans to reform the security sector, Anadolu Agency reports.