Tag: Libya

Deadly air strike on Libya migrant center sparks outrage

by Imed LAMLOUM TRIPOLI, Libya (AFP) — Outrage and calls for an independent probe mounted Wednesday as 44 migrants were killed in an air strike on a detention center in Libya that the UN said could constitute a war crime. UN chief Antonio Guterres denounced the “horrendous” attack and demanded an independent investigation as the Security Council said it would hold urgent talks about the situation in the country. Libya’s internationally-recognized government and its arch-foe […]

Nearly 40 killed in air strike on Libya migrant center

  by Imed LAMLOUM Agence France Presse TRIPOLI, Libya (AFP) — Nearly 40 migrants were killed in an air strike Tuesday night on their detention centre in a Tripoli suburb blamed on Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar, who has been trying for three months to seize the capital. At least 70 were also wounded in the raid on Tajoura, an emergency services spokesman told AFP. “This is a preliminary assessment and the toll could rise,” said […]

Nearly 40 killed in strike on Libya migrant centre: emergency services

by Imed LAMLOUM TRIPOLI, Libya (AFP) –Nearly 40 migrants were killed in an air strike Tuesday night on their detention centre in a Tripoli suburb blamed on Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar, who has been trying for three months to seize the capital. At least 70 were also wounded in the raid on Tajoura, an emergency services spokesman told AFP. “This is a preliminary assessment and the toll could rise,” said spokesman Osama Ali. He said […]

Violent clashes rage south of Libya’s Tripoli

by Imed Lamloum TRIPOLI, Libya (AFP) — Violent clashes raged Tuesday south of Tripoli, marking an uptick in fighting as the UN envoy for Libya warned of a “long and bloody war”. Heavy artillery fire could be heard from the city center as the most intense fighting took place since May 6, when the holy Muslim month of Ramadan started. More than six weeks since commander Khalifa Haftar launched an assault on the capital, fighters […]

‘From mama with love’, food parcels for Libya front line

by Nawas al-Darraji MISRATA, Libya (AFP) – A villa in Misrata is abuzz with activity as mothers prepare food parcels with poems and messages of love attached for sons battling on the outskirts of the Libyan capital. More than 10,000 food parcels are being sent each day from home, 200 kilometres (120 miles) away, to the battle front south of Tripoli against Libya’s military strongman Khalifa Haftar. In their fourth war since 2011, Misrata’s men […]

Cato: 11 more Filipinos in Libya to be repatriated

(Eagle News)–Eleven more Filipinos in war-torn Libya will be repatriated to the Philippines, Philippine Chargè d’Affaires Elmer Cato said. In a Tweet, Cato said the Filipinos were evacuated from Tripoli. He said this brings to 55 the number of Filipinos evacuated by the government since the conflict in Libya broke out on April 4. Early this month, the Department of Foreign Affairs raised an Alert Level over Tripoli and nearby areas, calling for a mandatory […]

Libyan air strikes kill four, wound 37: government

TRIPOLI, Libya (AFP) — Air raids on Tripoli Sunday night killed four people and wounded 37, Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) said Monday, blaming the attacks on strongman Khalifa Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA). This came a day after a similar attack on the capital killed another four civilians and injured 20, according to the GNA. Haftar’s LNA launched an offensive against Tripoli, the seat of the internationally-recognized GNA, on April 4. After […]

UN says over 260 killed in Libya battle as African leaders meet

TRIPOLI, Libya (AFP) — At least 264 people have been killed and over 1,200 wounded in weeks of fighting on the outskirts of Libya’s capital, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, as African leaders called for an immediate ceasefire. The WHO used Twitter to urge “a temporary cessation of hostilities, and for all parties to respect humanitarian law”. Eastern-based strongman Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive on the capital on April 4, as his self-styled Libyan […]

Haftar forces press offensive on Libyan capital

by Imed Lamloum TRIPOLI, Libya (AFP) — Forces backing Libya’s unity government battled to push back an offensive by strongman Khalifa Haftar on Sunday as his troops approached the gates of Tripoli after air raids overnight. Haftar’s self-proclaimed Libyan National Army, galvanized by victories in its eastern stronghold and in the country’s desert south, announced an offensive early this month to seize the capital from the UN-recognised administration of Fayez al-Sarraj. But his forces have […]

PHL diplomat in Libya urges Filipinos still there to leave as fighting intensifies

  (Eagle News) – An official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) who is in Libya to help repatriate Filipinos there appealed to his countrymen to accept the Philippine government’s offer of repatriation and leave Tripoli as their lives are in danger due to intensified fighting there. Elmer Cato, the Philippine diplomatic representative in Libya, had been repeatedly telling Filipinos in Tripoli to leave the area and go back to the Philippines. But he […]

Gov’t begins evacuation of Filipino workers from Tripoli, Libya

(Eagle News)–The Philippine Embassy has begun evacuating Filipinos from Tripoli, Libya  following the continued fighting there. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the first batch consisting of seven Filipinos– three hospital workers and four students– were evacuated by the Philippine embassy this morning to Tunisia. From there they would be repatriated to the Philippines. The DFA said it shouldered the cost of the trip of the four Islamic School students in Tripoli while the Overseas […]

UN in negotiations on Libya ceasefire

by Carole LANDRY UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — United Nations Security Council diplomats began negotiations Tuesday on a British-drafted resolution that would demand an immediate ceasefire in Libya after forces loyal to commander Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive on Tripoli. The proposed text seen by AFP warns that the offensive by Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) “threatens the stability of Libya and prospects for a United Nations-facilitated political dialogue and a comprehensive political solution […]