by Rim Taher and Imed Lamloum TRIPOLI, Libya (AFP) — Forces loyal to Libya’s internationally recognized government and a rival commander battled for control of the capital Thursday after UN chief Antonio Guterres warned the country faced a “very dangerous situation”. Thousands of people have fled heavy fighting on the outskirts of Tripoli that has left dozens dead and prompted mounting global alarm. Guterres appealed Wednesday for a halt to hostilities to prevent the situation […]
Tag: conflict
UN postpones Libya talks as violence rages
by Imed Lamloum TRIPOLI, Libya (AFP) — The United Nations on Tuesday postponed a Libyan national conference aimed at drawing up an election roadmap because of fighting raging near the capital, in another setback to peace efforts. The move came as the North African country’s warring parties faced mounting international pressure to halt the violence that has caused thousands to flee and left several dozen people dead. “We cannot ask people to take part in […]
US urges ‘immediate halt’ to military offensive by Libya’s Haftar: Pompeo
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States is “deeply concerned” by fighting near Libya’s capital Tripoli and is seeking an “immediate halt” to an offensive by strongman Khalifa Haftar, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday. “We have made clear that we oppose the military offensive by Khalifa Haftar’s forces and urge the immediate halt to these military operations against the Libyan capital,” he said in a statement. Libya descended into chaos during […]
Clashes rage in Libya despite UN truce call
TRIPOLI, Libya (AFP) — Fighting raged south of Libya’s capital Sunday despite a UN call for a two-hour ceasefire, as forces of strongman Khalifa Haftar and the internationally recognized government exchanged air strikes. The unity government said the fighting had killed 21 people, while the United Nations said there had been “no truce” despite calls for a two-hour pause in fighting for civilians and the wounded to flee. Oil-rich Libya has been riven by chaos […]
World powers demand halt to Libya advance
by Imed Lamloum TRIPOLI, Libya (AFP) — Libyan forces under Khalifa Haftar battled their way to the south of Tripoli on Friday, prompting the UN Security Council and the G7 to demand a halt to the military advance on the capital. Haftar, commander of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA), launched an offensive on Thursday to take the capital, held by a UN-backed unity government and an array of militias. The lightening assault was ordered […]
Calm returns to Gaza after rockets draw Israeli response
by Stephen Weizman with Sakher Abou El Oun in Gaza City JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) — Calm returned Wednesday after Palestinian militants in Gaza fired three rockets at Israel overnight, prompting retaliatory fire from Israel and threatening a Hamas-declared truce. But while the shaky ceasefire seemed to be taking effect, there were concerns the first anniversary of mass protests along the Gaza-Israel border on Saturday could lead to further tensions. A big turnout is expected for […]
New Gaza rocket threatens truce after Netanyahu warning
by Mike Smith with Sakher Abou El Oun in Gaza City JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) — Palestinian militants fired a rocket at Israel late Tuesday despite a ceasefire announced by Hamas, hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was prepared for further military action in Gaza. The flare-up began early Monday with a rare long-distance rocket strike from the Gaza Strip that hit a house north of Tel Aviv, wounding seven Israelis. The Israeli military […]
Israel strikes Gaza after rare missile hits house
by Sakher Abou El Oun GAZA CITY, Palestinian City (AFP) — Israeli air strikes hit sites across the Gaza Strip on Monday in retaliation for a rare rocket attack that hit a house near Tel Aviv, before Hamas said a ceasefire was reached. Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip, said Egypt had brokered the ceasefire following the escalation that came just two weeks before Israel’s April 9 elections. Israel, whose strikes began […]
The last days of the IS ‘caliphate’
by Tony Gamal-Gabriel Agence France Presse BAGHOUZ, Syria (AFP) — Suicide bombers, snipers, rockets — Islamic State group fighters did everything they could to defend their last scrap of territory in eastern Syria, but their diminished resources were not enough. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces on Saturday declared victory over the jihadists in the remote village of Baghouz, after reducing their once terrifying proto-state to a ghostly riverside camp. From the top of an […]
Israel says uncovers Hezbollah unit led by notorious commander
Israel’s army said Wednesday it had uncovered a unit recently created by Hezbollah across the ceasefire line in the Syrian Golan Heights and led by a commander previously jailed over an attack on US forces. With President Bashar al-Assad regaining control of southern Syria with the help of Russia and Hezbollah backer Iran, Israel is concerned that a front against it could be established there. Hezbollah, based in neighbouring Lebanon, has also been supporting Assad […]
3,000 IS members surrender to Syria force in 24 hours: spokesman
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AFP) — Three thousand Islamic State members have surrendered in the last 24 hours as US-backed forces close in on their last holdout in eastern Syria a spokesman said late Tuesday. “Number of Daesh (IS) members surrendered to us since yesterday (Monday) evening has risen to 3,000,” Syrian Democratic Forces spokesman Mustefa Bali wrote in English on Twitter Three women and four children of the Yazidi minority were also rescued, he added. © […]
Pakistan navy says it stopped Indian sub from entering its waters
KARACHI, Pakistan (AFP) — Pakistan has stopped an Indian submarine from entering its waters, the navy said Tuesday, as tensions continue to run high between the nuclear-armed foes. The development came days after a rare aerial dogfight between India and Pakistan over the disputed territory of Kashmir ignited fears of an all-out conflict, with world powers rushing to urge restraint. “The Pakistan navy stopped an Indian submarine from entering our territorial waters,” a naval […]





