TRIPOLI: Rival forces clashed in the Libyan capital Thursday, witnesses and pro-Government of National Accord (GNA) forces said, a day after a UN Security Council resolution called for a “lasting cease-fire.”
Flights were again suspended at Mitiga, Tripoli’s sole functioning airport, following rocket fire, as fighting broke out between forces loyal to the GNA and fighters of eastern commander Khalifa Haftar in the capital’s south.
Witnesses heard explosions in the largely agricultural area of Machrou Al-Hadhba about 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of the Tripoli city center.
Rockets also struck residential neighborhoods, killing one woman and wounding four other civilians, according to a spokesman for the health ministry, Amin Al-Hachimi.
GNA spokesman Moustafa Al-Mejii confirmed fighting had broken out in the suburb.
Mejii accused forces loyal to eastern Libya-based Haftar of having repeatedly violated a fragile truce called for by outside powers Russia and Turkey since January 12.
Despite the truce, there has been sporadic fighting almost every day near Tripoli, and arms continue to flow into the country.
The UN Security Council adopted on Wednesday a resolution calling for a “lasting cease-fire” in the conflict-hit country, a first since Haftar launched his offensive to seize Tripoli in April.
The resolution called for continued negotiations by a joint military commission set up in January between the two sides, with the goal of achieving a “permanent cease-fire.”
This would include a monitoring system, a separation of forces and confidence-building measures.
The commission’s Geneva meeting ended Saturday without a resolution, but the UN proposed resuming talks from February 18.
More than 1,000 people have died in the clashes between Haftar and the GNA, while another 140,000 have been displaced, according to the UN.
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New clashes in Libya despite UN cease-fire call
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New clashes in Libya despite UN cease-fire call
- The UN Security Council adopted on Wednesday a resolution calling for a “lasting cease-fire” in the conflict-hit country, a first since Haftar launched his offensive to seize Tripoli in April
- More than 1,000 people have died in the clashes between Haftar and the GNA, while another 140,000 have been displaced, according to the UN
Israeli strike on vehicle near Sidon in Lebanon kills 3
- Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency says strike was carried out by an Israeli drone around 10km from the southern coastal city
- Israeli military says the army struck several 'Hezbollah terrorists'
BEIRUT: Lebanese state media reported three people killed in an air strike near Sidon that Israel said had targeted Hezbollah operatives on Monday, days ahead of a deadline for Lebanon’s army to disarm the group near the border.
Israel has kept up regular strikes on Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah, despite a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities with the Iran-backed militant group, which it accuses of rearming.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said Monday’s strike on a vehicle was carried out by an Israeli drone around 10 kilometers (six miles) from the southern coastal city of Sidon and “killed three people who were inside.”
An Israeli military statement said the army “struck several Hezbollah terrorists in the area of Sidon.”
Under heavy US pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon has committed to disarming Hezbollah, starting with the south.
The Lebanese army plans to carry out the task south of the Litani River — about 30 kilometers from the border with Israel — by year’s end.
The latest strike came after Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives on Friday took part in a meeting of the ceasefire monitoring committee for a second time, after holding their first direct talks in decades earlier this month, also under the committee’s auspices.
In a meeting Monday with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the goal of the negotiations was to “stop the hostilities, achieve Israel’s withdrawal, return prisoners held in Israel, and return southern residents to their villages.”
“Lebanon awaits positive steps from the Israeli side,” Aoun added, according to a statement from his office.
More than 340 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon since the ceasefire, according to an AFP tally of Lebanese health ministry reports.
On Sunday, Israeli strikes in south Lebanon near the border killed one person and wounded another, as Israel also said it targeted Hezbollah members.
Israel’s military has also kept troops in five south Lebanon areas that it deems strategic.
Israel has kept up regular strikes on Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah, despite a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities with the Iran-backed militant group, which it accuses of rearming.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said Monday’s strike on a vehicle was carried out by an Israeli drone around 10 kilometers (six miles) from the southern coastal city of Sidon and “killed three people who were inside.”
An Israeli military statement said the army “struck several Hezbollah terrorists in the area of Sidon.”
Under heavy US pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon has committed to disarming Hezbollah, starting with the south.
The Lebanese army plans to carry out the task south of the Litani River — about 30 kilometers from the border with Israel — by year’s end.
The latest strike came after Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives on Friday took part in a meeting of the ceasefire monitoring committee for a second time, after holding their first direct talks in decades earlier this month, also under the committee’s auspices.
In a meeting Monday with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the goal of the negotiations was to “stop the hostilities, achieve Israel’s withdrawal, return prisoners held in Israel, and return southern residents to their villages.”
“Lebanon awaits positive steps from the Israeli side,” Aoun added, according to a statement from his office.
More than 340 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon since the ceasefire, according to an AFP tally of Lebanese health ministry reports.
On Sunday, Israeli strikes in south Lebanon near the border killed one person and wounded another, as Israel also said it targeted Hezbollah members.
Israel’s military has also kept troops in five south Lebanon areas that it deems strategic.
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