US companies involved in violation of Libya arms embargo, UN disclosed

The UN Security Council will decide if any action should be taken against UN member states that are breaking the international arms embargo on Libya after assessing a new report on the violations, The Wall Street Journal reports.

UN investigators claim that the embargo was broken by two US-based companies in 2011, as well as with shipments of military equipment from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Turkey in 2014 and 2015, according to the report.

Ukrainian companies and an Italian middleman working with a UK-based Libyan national are also under investigation over potential embargo violations.

The new UN report on the violations was submitted to the UN Security Council in January, according to The Wall Street Journal, and should be made public soon.

The UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo on Libya in 2011, during the Arab Spring revolution.

Libya has been in a state of turmoil ever since the Arab Spring uprising which led to a civil war in the country and the overthrow of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Libya is now ruled by two opposing governments: the internationally-recognized Council of Deputies based in Tobruk and the Tripoli-based General National Congress. According to The Wall Street Journal, weapons supplies in violation of the arms embargo go to both of the rivalling parties.

In December 2015, the sides struck a UN-brokered accord in the Moroccan city of Skhirat to form a national unity government.