Militias loyal to Libya’s Government of National Accord announced the appointment of an official, who is under American sanctions, as head of the GNA’s military intelligence. The Misrata-based al-Somoud Brigade said Salah Badi will be appointed as military intelligence chief, effective Sunday. Badi is the leader of the militia and loyal to the Muslim Brotherhood. The GNA and United Nations mission to Libya did not comment on the announcement. The mission had in September vowed to hold Badi’s militia to account over its violation of a ceasefire in the country. The US Treasury had in November 2018 imposed sanctions on Badi for sparking violent clashes in the south of Libya’s capital, Tripoli. Upon entering Tripoli in late August 2018, Badi also called for support from other militias to attack the city, plunging it into turmoil. “In September 2018, militia forces under Badi’s command battled rival militias, despite repeated calls from the UN for all sides to adhere to a ceasefire. Among those killed in the fighting were members of the ambulance and emergency services in Tripoli,” said the Treasury at the time. It also accused the Somoud Brigade of using highly destructive Grad rockets in densely populated areas, adding to the devastation of the attacks. Separately, speaker of the Tobruk-based parliament in the east Aguila Saleh said a settlement cannot be reached in Libya without the liberation of Tripoli. There can be no peace with locally and internationally wanted terrorists, he declared. The militias must withdraw from the capital, he demanded, voicing confidence that the Libyan National Army can complete this national mission. The LNA, commanded by Khalifa Haftar, had launched in April an operation to liberate Tripoli of militias that are loyal to the GNA.