Libya’s rivals begun an UN-brokered prisoner exchange as per the ceasefire agreement last week triumphantly with the secure exchange of the first batch of prisoners between the UN-recognized Government of National Accord and Haftar’s forces.

UNSMIL welcomed what it called the ‘‘remarkable success’’ on 25 December of the exchange of prisoners from both the contesting Libyan sides under the supervision of the Joint Military Commission (5+5), and thanks to the good offices of the tribal sheikhs and elders.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar warned on Sunday that the forces of Khalifa Haftar and their supporters based in eastern Libya would be viewed as “legitimate targets” if they attempted to attack Turkish forces in the region, reports Reuters.

The Government of National Accord (GNA) on Friday exchanged prisoners with the illegal Haftar’s forces as part of the ceasefire agreement signed between the two parties on October 23, 2020, in Geneva, which provides for all-for-all exchange of prisoners.

A Libyan commander who launched an offensive last year to capture the capital Tripoli from the UN-recognised rival government threatened Thursday to use force against Turkish troops if Ankara doesn’t stop interfering in the war-stricken North African country.

The release of the Sicilian fishermen in Libya’s eastern city of Benghazi has taken place in exchange for restoring relations with the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Khalifa Haftar, the Italian foreign minister announced yesterday.

Sirte-Jufra Operations Room of the Libyan Army under the command of the Government of National Accord (GNA) said its forces “are on alert for any possible attacks by Khalifa Haftar’s forces on the Sirte-Jufra contact line as they continue to mobilize in the ceasefire area.”

A team from the International Criminal Court (ICC) concluded a third visit to Libya on Wednesday after looking into Khalifa Haftar’s war crimes in the country.

The Minister of Interior, Fathi Bashagha, on Tuesday, hosted the Italian ambassador to Libya, Giuseppe Buccino to discuss the possibility of joint cooperation between the two countries, along with a number of other issues of common interest.

Hassan al-Huni, media advisor to Libya’s Government of National Accord vehemently denied that head of presidential council, Fayez Al-Sarraj ever made an offer to Khalifa Haftar to name a new prime minister as reported by Italian newspaper La República.