Libya - Weekly situation report 19-25 April

Despite LNA spokesperson, Ahmed al-Mesmari, announced on Wednesday that Marshall Khalifa Haftar will arrive to Benghazi on Thursday 26th, uncertainties remain about his health and his ability to lead the Libyan National Army in the near future. The coming battle for the liberation of the city of Derna will test the cohesion of this army. Despite the ceasefire, fighting resumed around the city of Sebha. In Tripoli, Mitiga International Airport was shelled again by Bogra militia. In Bani Walid area, the LNA Air Force carried out three air-strikes on a camp occupied by the so-called ‘Benghazi Defence Brigades’ near al-Saddada. In Derna, fighting between LNA and DMSC militants increased.

This report includes : - Situation in southern Libya - Situation in eastern Libya - Situation in western Libya - Coast guards activities - Foreign military flights - Demining activities To access to the full PDF report (1,708 words, 14 pages), please contact Arnaud Delalande

Publication in April 2018

This month, The Aviation Historian magazine published my story about the too short carreer of the Sepecat Jaguar within the Nigerian Air Force. In Air Forces Monthly, I started a new series of articles - in parallel of my regularly Flashpoints - investigating sub-Saharan Africa’s ‘small air forces’, defined as those with 30 or fewer airframes – and which don’t currently find themselves involved in combat operations. The first part concerns Benin, Ghana, Togo air forces.

Libya - Weekly situation report 12-18 April

Following the admission of Field-Marshall Khalifa Haftar in a military hospital in Paris, his fate remained unclear as contradicting sources reported his death while his supporters denied it. Wednesday in the evening, French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said in a closed meeting for the French government that Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar was in good health after receiving treatment. The same day, the convoy of Marshall Haftar’s Chief of Staff - Abdul Razek al-Nadori - was hit by a VBIED as it was passing through Sidi Khalifah, north of Benghazi killing one and injuring two. Al-Nadori announced few days before the begining of the military operation to storm the city of Derna.

This report includes : - Situation in southern Libya - Situation in eastern Libya - Situation in western Libya - Coast guards activities - Foreign military flights - Demining activities To access to the full PDF report (1,397 words, 9 pages), please contact Arnaud Delalande

Libya - Weekly situation report 5-11 April

Field-Marshall Khalifa Haftar was announced hospitalizing in Paris. In southern Libya, the LNA’s 6th Infantry Brigade declared a unilateral ceasefire. The Tebu Council of Elders said they had agreed to a ceasefire due to efforts made by Fezzan towns/villages Council of Elders throughout the previous week. Fighting intensified in eastern Libya between LNA and Derna Mujahideen Shura Council. LNA has sent reinforcements toward the city : the 106th, 128th, 155th, 166th Infantry Brigade and the Tariq Bin Ziyad Brigade were ordered to go in the area. A large number of tanks (including T-55s) and tank-transporters have been deployed for the "final" battle announced by the LNA for several days.

This report includes : - Situation in southern Libya - Situation in eastern Libya - Situation in western Libya - Coast guards activities - Foreign military flights - Demining activities To access to the full PDF report (1,483 words, 12 pages), please contact Arnaud Delalande

Libya - Weekly situation report 29 March - 4 April

Reliable reports confirmed the collaboration between the two governments in the fighting against Chadian militia in southern Libyan. Fighting are still ongoing in Sebha between the 6th Infantry Brigade and Chadian militia. Tension increased in Tripoli when Tripoli Revolutionary Brigade and the 42nd Brigade clashed with the “Kanyat” 7th Infantry Brigade. President Council spokesman announced the launch of a military operation “Nation Storm” to pursue remnants of ISIS. An Islamic State SVBIED detonated at the eastern entrance of the city of Ajdabiya killing seven people and injuring nine.

This report includes : - Situation in southern Libya - Situation in eastern Libya - Situation in western Libya - Coast guards activities - Foreign military flights - Demining activities To access to the full PDF report (2,014 words, 11 pages), please contact Arnaud Delalande