Kristian Coates Ulrichsen is a fellow for the Middle East at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in Texas. His research examines political, economic, and security trends in the Middle East and, in particular, the Gulf Cooperation Council states’ changing position within the global order.

The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has broken up the years-long steady relationship with Khalifa Haftar and his forces in Libya, saying it is a wrong idea that the world thinks France backs up Haftar in the war-ravaged country.

The Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) confirmed Monday there have been ongoing negotiations to resume oil production over the past several weeks with the between the GNA, NOC and regional countries, under the supervision of the UN and the US.

Libyan militia leader Khalifa Haftar has sent thousands of foreign fighters to the frontlines of Sirte as government forces prepare to re-take the key city, according to media reports on Monday.

The head of Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Accord Fayez Sarraj has called on the International Criminal Court to send specialists to Libya to investigate the actions of the eastern-based Libyan National Army led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

Sudan said Sunday it has arrested 122 of its nationals as they headed to neighbouring Libya to fight as “mercenaries“, state media reported.

The spokesman for the Libyan Army under the command of the Government of National Accord (GNA) Mohammed Gununu said Libya is at war with invading mercenaries supported by regional and international states after the defeat of their agent Khalifa Haftar.

Russian buildup is turning the eastern Mediterranean Sea into one of the world’s most militarized zones, the U.S. Navy’s top admiral in Europe has said, warning that Moscow could cement its dominance in the region if it’s allowed to gain a foothold in Libya.

Libya’s permanent representative to the UN, Taher El-Sonni, on Saturday called for imposing sanctions on Russian and Sudanese mercenaries in the country.

The Spokesman for the Sirte-Jufra Military Operations Room, Brigadier-General Abdel-Hadi Drah, confirmed on Friday the arrival of six anti-aircraft Pantsir air defense systems to the city of Sirte, arriving from Russia.