CAIRO: One of the armed groups fighting for control of Libya’s capital says it is imposing a “no-fly zone” there.
The self-styled Libyan National Army’s announcement comes after two unmanned drone aircraft — one American and one Italian — were lost near the capital last week.
The LNA has said it shot down the Italian drone, while the US military hasn’t given a reason for its drone’s loss.
Ahmed Al-Mosmari, an LNA spokesman, said late Saturday that all flights over Tripoli and nearby towns are “prohibited without prior coordination.”
Oil-rich Libya is split between rival governments. A UN-supported but weak administration holds the capital, Tripoli. The LNA is allied with the government based in the country’s east.
The LNA has been trying to capture Tripoli since April.
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Libyan force imposes ‘no-fly zone’ amid fight for Tripoli
Libyan force imposes ‘no-fly zone’ amid fight for Tripoli
- Two unmanned drone aircraft — one American and one Italian — were lost near the capital last week
- A UN-supported but weak administration holds the capital, Tripoli
Trump warns of severe consequences if Iran mines Strait of Hormuz
- Donald Trump: ‘If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before’
- Trump’s post came after CNN — citing anonymous sources familiar with US intelligence reports — reported that Iran had indeed begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump warned Iran Tuesday of unprecedented military consequences if it mines the Strait of Hormuz, after Tehran vowed that no Gulf oil would pass through the key waterway.
Trump said on social media that he had received no reports of Iran doing so yet, but then said that if Tehran had, then it must remove the floating explosive devices “IMMEDIATELY!“
“If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.
“If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!“
The United States would also use the missiles it had previously employed to blow up alleged drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters to “permanently eliminate” any mine-laying boat in the Gulf strait, Trump added.
“They will be dealt with quickly and violently. BEWARE!” he posted.
His post came after CNN — citing anonymous sources familiar with US intelligence reports — reported that Iran had indeed begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly a fifth of global oil production passes, and where traffic has virtually halted.
The White House said earlier Tuesday that United States has not escorted any oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, after the energy secretary’s social media account posted but then deleted a claim that it did so.
Trump said on social media that he had received no reports of Iran doing so yet, but then said that if Tehran had, then it must remove the floating explosive devices “IMMEDIATELY!“
“If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.
“If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!“
The United States would also use the missiles it had previously employed to blow up alleged drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters to “permanently eliminate” any mine-laying boat in the Gulf strait, Trump added.
“They will be dealt with quickly and violently. BEWARE!” he posted.
His post came after CNN — citing anonymous sources familiar with US intelligence reports — reported that Iran had indeed begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly a fifth of global oil production passes, and where traffic has virtually halted.
The White House said earlier Tuesday that United States has not escorted any oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, after the energy secretary’s social media account posted but then deleted a claim that it did so.
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