Libya

TRIPOLI, June 8 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Embassy in Libya on Sunday welcomed the reopening of Sharara oilfield, the largest in Libya, after it was closed by tribal leaders in January.

"The Embassy welcomes the announcement by the National Oil Corporation (NOC) that it is resuming production at the critical Sharara oil field, a significant step forward as the NOC fulfills its crucial and apolitical mandate to promote the interests of all Libyans," the embassy said in a statement.

TRIPOLI, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Embassy to Libya on Saturday welcomed the Egyptian initiative for a political settlement between Libya's UN-backed government and the eastern-based army.

"The United States is watching with interest as political voices in the east of Libya find expression. We look forward to seeing these voices incorporated into a genuine nationwide political dialogue immediately following the resumption of the UNSMIL-hosted 5+5 talks on the modalities of a cease-fire," the embassy said in a statement.

06 June 2020; MEMO: Libyan army seized on Friday weapons, ammunition, and vehicles purchased by the UAE for warlord Khalifa Haftar, Anadolu Agency reports.

This was revealed after the Libyan Army announced the complete liberation of the capital Tripoli along with the strategic city of Tarhuna from Haftar militias over the last 72 hours.

The UAE is one of the several countries — along with Egypt and Russia — that have supported Haftar’s militias against Libya’s legitimate government.

06 June 2020; MEMO: A total of 106 bodies, including children and women, were found in a hospital in freshly liberated Tarhuna city of Libya, Anadolu Agency reports.

The strategically important city, regarded as the last stronghold of warlord Khalifa Haftar, was liberated by the Libyan army on Friday,

Libya’s internationally recognised government has been under attack by Haftar’s forces since April 2019, with more than 1,000 killed in the violence.

05 June 2020; MEMO: Forces fighting for Libya’s UN-supported government said today they entered the city of Tarhuna, the last major stronghold of eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, and  liberated the city shortly after.

The Government of National Accord (GNA)’s operations room said its forces reached the centre of the key city after entering it from four sides, Reuters reported.

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Forces loyal to Libya’s internationally recognised government captured the last major stronghold of eastern commander Khalifa Haftar near Tripoli on Friday, capping the sudden collapse of his 14-month offensive on the capital.

Military sources in Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) said their forces had withdrawn from the town of Tarhouna. They headed towards Sirte, far along the coast, and the airbase of al-Jufra in central Libya. The LNA made no immediate official comment.

04 June 2020; MEMO: Libya’s eastern-based military leader Brigadier General Khalifa Haftar visited Cairo yesterday and met with Egypt’s deputy defence minister hours before the internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) announced that it had taken over Tripoli International Airport from his forces.

MOSCOW, June 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for an early cessation of hostilities at a meeting with Ahmed Maiteeq, deputy prime minister of Libya’s UN-rcognised Government of National Accord (GNA), and Mohamed Siala, foreign minister of the GNA, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

DHAKA, June 2 (NNN-BSS) – The UN-recognised Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) has pledged Bangladesh that it would expose the perpetrators involved in the killing of 26 Bangladeshi nationals there.

The Libyan foreign ministry made the vow while strongly condemning the killing by sending a condolence message to Dhaka, a Bangladesh foreign ministry press release said.

31 May 2020; MEMO: A mass grave was found south of Tripoli, the Libyan Interior Ministry said today, reports Anadolu Agency.

The grave was discovered in Sadiyah area which was recaptured from forces loyal to eastern warlord Khalifa Haftar, the ministry said in a statement.

A mother, father and two children were buried inside the grave.

Following the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya’s new government was founded in 2015 under a UN-led political agreement.