Baytelmal: Coastal road will not reopen until mercenaries are contained and removed from the country
Commander of the Libyan Army's Sirte-Jufra Operations Room reiterates that despite the importance of the coastal road, it will not be reopened until all foreign elements have been removed
BY Libyan Express	 Jun 10, 2021 - 20:03
The reopening of the coastal road has been an ongoing issue of massive public interest due to its importance for travel and trade. [Photo: Libya Ahrar]
Major General Ibrahim Baytelmal, Commander of the Libyan Army's Sirte-Jufra Operations Room, stated that the room is ready to follow the Presidential Council's instructions about repositioning to reopen the coastal road only after the agreed-upon terms of the ceasefire agreement are fully implemented, particularly the withdrawal of all mercenaries and foreign forces.
In a televised statement, Baytelmal said it was critical for the two sides of the ceasefire agreement – referring to Khalifa Haftar's militias – to implement the 5+5 Joint Military Commission's understandings, adding that the Presidential Council's order for repositioning was not clear enough.
Baytelmal stated that the room would report to the Presidential Council on this matter following a meeting of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission to address the complete execution of the ceasefire, particularly the withdrawal of foreign mercenaries and forces.
The Libyan Presidential Council – the Chief Commander of the Libyan Army – has directed the Sirte-Jufra Operations Room to promptly deploy its soldiers to allow for the restoration of the coastal road and the facilitation of people' transit.
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