Brak Al-Shati followup from the Libyan News

On Thursday, forces from the Third Force – appointed by the Government of National Accord (GNA) to secure the entire southern region – conducted a hit-and-run attack on the Brak Al-Shati military base, where rival forces led by Mohammed Ben Nayel are located.

Ben Nayel forces are part of the Operation Dignity forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar and the House of Representatives in Tobruk, eastern Libya.

While, Third Force are a combination of fighters led by Jamal Al-Treiki, and loyal to the Defence Minister of the GNA, Mihdi Al-Barghathi.

The attack was fierce enough to leave over sixty of the fighters of Ben Nayel killed, with uncertain reports about civilian casualties, according to outrageous remarks made by the Head of the UNSMIL, Martin Kobler.

Kobler denounced the attack, GNA, Presidential Council severed ties with the Third Force and disowned the attack, opening an investigation into the incident and suspending both the Defence Minister and the commander of the Third Force.

SRSG for Libya Martin Kobler condemns attack on Brak al-Shati: “This vicious attack undermines political efforts”: https://t.co/L0xMXmyHfe

— UNSMIL (@UNSMILibya) May 19, 2017

The UK ambassador to Libya, Peter Millett, also denounced the attack.

Civil war in #Libya must be averted. Violence will not solve #Libya's divisions. Dialogue & reconciliation essential #BrakShati 2/2

— Peter Millett (@PeterMillett1) May 19, 2017

The pro-Operation Dignity forces were positioned in the Brak Al-Shati military base as a solid ground in southern Libya for them to advance on and on in the region to finally seize Tamnahent airbase near Sabha, where they carried out many attacks but failed to seize control of it.

According to pro-Operation Dignity forces, a grip on the Tamnahent airbase will allow them to set off to Misurata and then to the capital, Tripoli, as their leader, Khalifa Haftar, has always vowed to “liberate” it from what he described as terrorist militias and Brotherhood militias.

The new rift that has been created now inside the GNA is probably going to hinder lots of hopes about kicking off any new dialogue sessions, especially that the suspension – which is clearly a euphemism for sacking used by the GNA – of the Defence Minister, Al-Barghathi will absolutely create some kind of turbulence in the GNA indoors.