The Libyan National Accord government said that its forces will continue to advance towards Sirte (450 km east of Tripoli) until it regains control, amid widespread diplomatic activity after successive defeats of the forces of retired Major General Khalifa Haftar during the past days.

Al-Wefaq forces reached the outskirts of Sirte, but they faced air strikes and resistance on the ground from Haftar forces that had taken control of the city early this year.

Al-Jazeera correspondent in Libya reported, quoting a military source, that ten of Al-Wefaq forces were killed yesterday, Monday, in the southwestern area of ​​Sirte, in air strikes by warplanes and other Emirati guided forces of Haftar's forces. The source affirmed that Al-Wefaq forces will maintain their advanced locations west of Sirte in the thirty kilo area.

28 battalions and companies of the military zone in Sebha, southern Libya, renewed their support and adherence to the internationally recognized government of national reconciliation.

For their part, the Touareg notables and elders in the city of Ubari in southern Libya announced their support for the Al-Wefaq government, stressing the need to unify the state's security institutions.

In a statement to them, the Elders and notables demanded that Lieutenant General Ali Kana, the commander of the Sebha military region affiliated with the National Accord Government, take control of the matters in southern Libya.

The forces of retired Major General Khalifa Hifter sent military reinforcements to the fighting axes in the west of the city, in conjunction with the launch of Emirati march planes belonging to Haftar raids on military vehicles belonging to the Al-Wefaq forces in the area extending from the east of Misurata to the borders of Sirte.

Yesterday, Haftar forces spokesman, Ahmed Al-Mismari announced that they would continue their operations until the commitment (by the Al-Wefaq government) to the Egyptian initiative or the elimination of what he described as rogue cities.

Diplomatic activity

In parallel with these striking military developments, diplomacy has been active on the Libyan file after the recent defeats of Haftar forces in the southern suburbs of Tripoli and Tarhuna (approximately 80 km southeast of the capital).

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a television interview with the Turkish "TRT" channel that he discussed during a telephone conversation with his American counterpart Donald Trump developments in Libya, where he assured him that Turkey is continuing to support legitimacy.

He added that Trump had spoken to him about the success Turkey had achieved in Libya.

Erdogan said that Ankara "continues to support al-Sarraj, which is recognized by the United Nations, and we are standing up to Haftar al-Qalabi and the parties behind him."

The Turkish president said that Fayez al-Sarraj's control of vital areas in Libya disturbed Russia, noting that Haftar was a coupist who derives his strength from Russia as he described, highlighting that developments "show that Haftar can be taken out of the equation at any time."

Russian position

For its part, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoغلlu reaffirmed their mutual commitment to help create conditions for reconciliation between the warring parties in Libya.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the two sides stressed the importance of creating the appropriate conditions for a Libyan political and diplomatic settlement under the auspices of the United Nations.

The two parties also agreed on the need for the urgent appointment of a new Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Libya.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his support for the Cairo initiative on a settlement in Libya, and discussed during a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El-Sisi the developments of the situation in Libya in detail, according to a statement of the Kremlin.

The statement added that Sisi told Putin the contents of the Cairo talks with Aqila Saleh and Khalifa Haftar on June 6.

The mutual commitment to continue coordination was also emphasized in order to ensure the cessation of hostilities and the start of negotiations between the Libyan parties under the auspices of the United Nations.

Situations

As for European Union foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano, he said that any initiative on Libya should be based on UN resolutions and the Berlin conference. He added in statements that this initiative should include all parties without exception.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also telephoned President Sisi on the current political and military situation in Libya, in which she expressed support for the ceasefire efforts in Libya, according to a statement by a spokesman for the German government.

The statement indicated that Merkel assured Sisi that negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations must remain the central reference point for the peace process in Libya. The German Chancellor and the Egyptian President also urged all parties to the conflict in Libya to return to the negotiating table.

Earlier, Tunisian Foreign Minister Noureddine El-Rai had contacts with his counterparts in Libya, Algeria, Egypt and Morocco, on developments in Libya and efforts to stop the fighting there.

The head of the European Union delegation to Tripoli, Alan Bujia, discussed the importance of the participation of the parties to the conflict in the talks of the joint military committee "5 + 5" under the auspices of the United Nations, the day before yesterday with Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Taher Siala.