Fighting broke out again yesterday between the Libyan army and Libya Dawn forces for control of the oil crescent hours after a ceasefire was announced.
The ceasefire was to allow talks to be held between rival factions under the auspices of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). A spokesman for the oil installations guards Ali Al-Hassi told the Anadolu Agency: “Libya Dawn forces carried out an attack near the village of Bin Jawad near the oil crescent on Monday.”
“The Libya Dawn troops withdrew from the fight after the Libyan army intensified their attack against them,” he said without giving further details about the incident or whether it led to any casualties.
“We are charged with protecting the oil installations in the oil crescent area, and it is natural to respond to any attack,” Al-Hassi said, adding that no ceasefire order had been given.
In a statement yesterday, the Presidency of the General Staff of the Libyan army announced a ceasefire on land, sea and air on all fronts starting on midnight on Sunday “out of respect for the negotiations in Geneva”.
Meanwhile, a Libya Dawn field commander said they “did not receive any orders to stop shooting so far”.
Despite Libya Dawn forces confirming that they had withdrawn from the region, the field commander, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said fighting is ongoing in the area.
On Thursday, the first round of direct talks between the Libyan parties began in Geneva as part of UNMSIL’s efforts to resolve the conflict.
Head of UNMSIL,Bernardino Leon announced that the talks will include military commanders, tribal leaders, civil society organisations and representatives of the Libyan municipalities in addition to other parties.