UN mission in Libya urges immediate de-escalation in Tripoli
Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Al-Dbeibah ordered in May the dismantling of what he called irregular armed groups, which was followed by Tripoli's fiercest clashes in years between two armed groups that killed at least eight civilians.
'The Mission continues its efforts to help de-escalate the situation and calls on all parties to engage in good faith toward this end ... Forces recently deployed in Tripoli must withdraw without delay,' the UN Mission said on social media.
A Tripoli-based Government of National Unity under Al-Dbeibah was installed through a UN-backed process in 2021 but the Benghazi-based House of Representatives no longer recognizes its legitimacy.
Libya has had little stability since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising ousted longtime autocrat Muammar Qaddafi. The country split in 2014 between rival eastern and western factions, though an outbreak of major warfare paused with a truce in 2020.
While eastern Libya has been dominated for a decade by commander Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army, control in Tripoli and western Libya has been splintered among numerous armed factions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
13 hours ago
- Arab News
Turkiye's Erdogan to meet Italy's Meloni and Libya's Dbeibah in Istanbul, presidency says
ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will hold separate meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Al-Dbeibah in Istanbul on Friday, Turkiye's presidency said in a statement.
Arab News
18 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan wraps up UNSC presidency for July after helping refocus attention on Gaza, Middle East
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has wrapped up its presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of July, the country's UN mission said on Friday, after Islamabad helped refocused global attention on Gaza and the Middle East amid Israeli military actions. Pakistan assumed the UNSC presidency at a time of a spiraling hunger crisis in Gaza due to Israel's blockade of the territory, which did not allow any humanitarian aid to get through to war-torn Palestinian people, as well as Tel Aviv's military actions elsewhere in the Middle East. The South Asian country hosted an open debate at the Council and called for an immediate ceasefire and deliver of relief items to Gaza. It also backed an 'inclusive' political process to stabilize a Syria rocked by clashes between the Druze minority and Bedouin clans that killed over 250 people. Speaking at the wrap-up session, Pakistan's envoy, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, expressed his deep appreciation to all UNSC members for their cooperation, collegiality and active engagement throughout his country's presidency last month. 'Pakistan approached its presidency with a sense of humility, deep commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and focus on Council's core mandate for maintaining international peace and security,' he was quoted as saying by Pakistan's UN mission. 'Constructive spirit and support by the Council members went a long way in ensuring that our work remained focused, effective and inclusive.' Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar pushed for 'universal recognition' of the state of Palestine and its full membership at the UN at a high-level UN conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue, which was co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. During its presidency, the UNSC adopted five resolutions that covered dispute resolution, Red Sea reporting, Yemen, Haiti, Central African Republic (CAR) sanctions, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) elections, according to the Pakistani UN mission. The country also hosted a briefing on UN–OIC cooperation, a meeting on adapting peace operations in light of major UN reviews. Ambassador Ahmed congratulated Panama on assumption of the presidency for the month of August and assured it of Pakistan's full support, the Pakistani mission said.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
Algeria to resume Lebanon flights in mid-August
BEIRUT: Air Algerie has announced the resumption of flights to Beirut, starting on Aug. 14. The announcement follows an Algerian-Lebanese summit between the countries' presidents, Joseph Aoun and Abdelmadjid Tebboune, held in Algiers on Tuesday. Algeria's Tebboune confirmed he had issued instructions for Air Algerie to resume flights to Beirut, with two weekly flights starting within the next two weeks. Tickets are already on sale through the airline's commercial offices and website. Tebboune also said discussions would be held on the establishment of a maritime line between Algeria and the port of Tripoli, in northern Lebanon. The link would aim to boost industry and commerce, especially during the country's reconstruction phase. He pledged 'unwavering support to Lebanon' in the area of renewable energy, including the construction of solar power plants. 'Agreements covering financial, economic and cultural cooperation will be signed in the near future,' Tebboune said during a joint press conference with Aoun following the summit. Aoun said: 'Lebanon aspires to enter every brotherly Arab country and every Arab home with love and brotherhood. We do not interfere in the affairs of our brothers, nor do they interfere in ours —except to support what is in the best interest of each of us and for all our nations, in a spirit of full respect and genuine cooperation.' On Tuesday, Tebboune awarded Aoun the Order of National Merit, Athir class, the highest honor Algeria can bestow upon heads of state. It was presented 'in recognition of the relations of brotherhood and mutual understanding, and the historically significant positions shared between Algeria and Lebanon.' The summit included bilateral talks which resulted in 'important decisions to activate cooperation and strengthen relations between the two countries in various fields.' A joint statement said discussions focused on reconstruction efforts following extensive damage caused by Israeli attacks on Lebanon, during which the Lebanese delegation presented a detailed memorandum outlining the country's reconstruction needs. During a press conference with Aoun, Tebboune reiterated Algeria's commitment to Lebanon's security and stability. He also highlighted efforts at Security Council level to stop Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty and to support the UN resolution to renew the mandate of UNIFIL. The summit also saw a decision to 'activate the political consultation mechanism between the two countries, which has been held once since 2002, and to announce assistance in the field of renewable energy, the construction of solar power plants, and other areas.' The Algerian president confirmed the need to expedite the convening of the first session of the Algerian-Lebanese Joint Committee as a new starting point and a driving framework for effective, sustainable cooperation. Aoun said Arab solidarity was essential for Lebanon's strength. 'I have great hopes of rescuing my country from imminent dangers and restoring a state with all its attributes, chief among them full, undiminished and exclusive sovereignty over its entire territory and all its people,' he said. Aoun praised Algeria's 'steadfast support for Lebanon,' adding it 'has consistently been present in Arab efforts to help Lebanon overcome its crises and resolve its internal and external conflicts.' As part of the summit, Lebanese Minister of Information Paul Morcos and Algerian Minister of Communication Mohamed Meziane signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening media cooperation between the two countries. On the second day of his visit, Aoun visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Bab El Oued district. The church, perched on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean, was the first Catholic church in Africa in the name of the Virgin Mary. Designed by French architect Jean-Eugene Fromageau, it was completed in 1872. Aoun left a message in the church's guest book that said: 'It is no surprise that the Virgin Mary inspires a culture of coexistence, dialogue and mutual respect among civilizations and religions in Algeria. For Christians, she has always been a mother, an intercessor, and a symbol of love and devotion. Few things capture the nobility of this historic cathedral's message, standing for a century and a half as a witness to humanity's journey in Algeria, better than the words engraved upon it: 'Our Lady of Africa, pray for us and for the Muslims'.' Aoun also visited the Great Mosque of Algiers, locally known as Djamaa El-Djazair, where Sheikh Mamoun Al-Qasimi spoke to him about the religious values and true meanings of Islam, which he said included moderation and openness toward other religions. The Great Mosque of Algiers is the largest mosque in Africa. Its main prayer hall can accommodate 32,000 worshippers and the entire complex, including the courtyard and outdoor areas, can host up to 120,000 people. It is the world's third-largest mosque after the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah. In 2021 it received the International Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum for Architecture and Design and the European Center for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. Aoun also left a note in the mosque's guest book that said: 'The Great Mosque of Algiers undoubtedly fosters a spirit of coexistence, tolerance, and moderation. These values resonate throughout Algeria, in the heart of its people, and in the soul of all visitors.'
