NATO expresses support for Sarraj’s internationally-recognized government

One militant was killed as he was shot in the Libyan capital of Tripoli. Sources revealed that armed people targeted an individual working with the camp related to National Salvation Government. They said that he was shot by mistake during a clash between other militants, while others said he was targeted by rivals of National Salvation Government.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday said a team of NATO experts would help the Libyan government build defense and security institutions. Stoltenberg made the remarks after meeting with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Stoltenberg said NATO was engaged in preparing a program to help build defense institutions in Libya in 2011, but added that, "the security situation made it impossible to continue." "Now we have agreed in a way to restart those efforts. An expert team from NATO met with experts from the government of national accord, in Tunisia, some weeks ago," he said.
"The main purpose of the meeting today was to make sure our experts will sit down as soon as possible," Stoltenberg added. He noted that NATO experts would address issues such as how to develop a modern ministry of defense, build joint chiefs of staff, and also to develop intelligence services in Libya.
On the military side, the Libyan National Army (LNA) claims to have today taken the long-shuttered and now badly-damaged fish market which gives its name to Benghazi’s Suq Al-Hout district. Troops were able to advance along Dernah, Al-Ageeb and Zuwara streets also pushing militants out of the century-old Erkheis mosque which, unlike many surrounding buildings, has escaped significant damage.
The militants have moved further into the old town and are reportedly retreating north-eastwards toward Sabri. For cover they are using the long Suq Al-Thalam  “the dark market ” part of which is the Suq Al-Jreed.
A key position still held by the insurgents is Al-Jumhuria hospital which links Suq Al-Hout to the last militant enclave of Sabri. This district has been hit by a series of air strikes over the last 48 hours and army sources say that there are many snipers waiting for the main LNA advance to begin. The LNA has given no figures for its losses over the past two days and since last week has not reported the death or capture of any militants.
On his hand, The outgoing UNSMIL chief Martin Kobler has urged swift action on the deal to allow Tawerghans to return to their hometown. Misrata this week agreed that the citizens of Tawergha could go back to their ravaged town. However, Kobler cautioned today that this repatriation should be managed transparently and in full accord with human rights standards.
Misratan forces drove Tawerghans out of their town in 2011 accusing them of supporting Qaddafi’s drive to crush the Revolution in Misrata itself. Since then thousands of Tawerghans have been living in camps, mainly in Tripoli and Benghazi.
Since 2013, Tawerghan leaders have been pressing for their people to be allowed to go home.  In Misrata there have continued to be factions that refuse to exonerate the Tawerghans for their perceived counter-Revutionary role and have rejected UNSMIL-brokered efforts at reconciliation.
However, this week, an agreement made in Tunis last September  was finally ratified in Misrata.
Kobler hailed the move saying: “I am pleased that after six years of displacement the Tawerghans can finally return home.  Ensuring that their return is safe, voluntary and unconditional must be a top priority and here the United Nations stands ready to support.”
Kobler also said that he saw the enacting of the Misratan-Tawerghan as a signpost for the rest of the country.
“This agreement” he said,“ is the first step toward developing a much-needed broader national reconciliation process, to address outstanding issues of truth-seeking, justice and reparation for all victims of war crimes and human rights violations”.
On the other hand, The Libyan army leadership presented video and audio evidence and documents confirming Qatar's official involvement in supporting terrorist groups since 2011 and financing the armed operations in the country aimed at destabilizing the country and sabotaging the democratic process.
Libyan army spokesman Colonel Ahmed al-Mesmari revealed in a press conference about the array of evidence detailing Qatar's crimes in Libya, stressing that it has played a dirty role since the revolution that toppled the Muammar Gaddafi regime.
The documents reveal the involvement of Qatari officials in increasing the divisions within Libya through the spread of Qatari military forces on Libyan territory and the attempt to control several areas, most notably Mu'tika and Misurata.
In addition, the country was flooded with billions of dollars to corrupt Libyan society by exploiting the economic conditions of some its citizens. The funds were also used to support former prisoners in Libya to become leaders.
Among the Qatari officials involved were Mohammed Hamad al-Hajri, acting charge of affaires at the Qatari embassy in Libya, and Qatari intelligence General Salim Ali al-Jarboui, who served as Qatar's military attache in North Africa.