Libya

TRIPOLI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A total of 18 people were killed and dozens injured in violent clashes here on Saturday between Libya's UN-backed government forces and the east-based rebel army, according to military sources of both sides.

A military source of the government forces said that 11 of their troops were killed and dozens injured in the south of the capital.

"Seven of our troops were killed in the fighting axes of the airport road, Salah al-Din and Ain Zara (southern Tripoli), and dozens of others were wounded," a source of the east-based army told Xinhua that

TRIPOLI, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Libya's UN-backed government on Tuesday said that it has launched airstrikes on the rival eastern-based army in southern Tripoli.

"The air force launched four airstrikes in Spe'a, Suq al-Khamis, and Emsehel areas in southern Tripoli," said Mohamed Gununu, spokesman for the UN-backed government's forces.

The airstrikes targeted "mercenaries and armored vehicles, including an Emirati armored vehicle," the spokesman added.

TRIPOLI, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany aims to host a conference about Libya this year in conjunction with the United Nations to try to stabilise the oil producing country, where rival factions have been fighting over the capital, Germany’s ambassador to Libya said.

The plans, which are still in the early stages according to diplomats, are the first major diplomatic push since eastern forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar launched in April an offensive to take the capital Tripoli, held by the internationally recognised government of Premier Fayez al-Serraj.

ABOARD THE OCEAN VIKING (AP) — Thirty-four migrants including women and a small child who had been rescued by a German sailboat were successfully transferred to a larger humanitarian ship during a thunderstorm in international waters north of Libya.

The transfer happened late Monday about 120 kilometers (75 miles) off the Libyan coast, near the Bouri offshore oil field.

The 22 men, six women and a 1-year-old boy had been rescued earlier in the day from a rubber boat with a broken engine by the crew of a 14-meter-long sailboat operated by the German charity Resqship.

TRIPOLI, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- The air force of Libya's eastern-based army on Saturday targeted Mitiga International Airport in the capital Tripoli, according to a military source.

"An airstrike targeted a military objective inside Mitiga air base," an army official said, providing no further details about the airstrike.

The UN-backed government of Libya has been engaged in a deadly armed conflict since early April in and around Tripoli against the eastern-based army, which is trying to take over the city and overthrow the government.

TRIPOLI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan navy said on Thursday that more than 400 illegal immigrants were rescued in separate operations off the country's western coast.

"Coast guards patrol rescued 403 illegal immigrants in separate operations during the past few days," said the navy spokesman Ayob Qassem.

The rescue operations took place off the coast of the city of Khoms, some 120 km east of the capital Tripoli, the spokesman said.

The rescued are of different African nationalities, Qassem said, adding that they were taken to reception centers.

TRIPOLI, Aug 30 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Libyan navy said that more than 400 illegal immigrants were rescued in separate operations off the country’s western coast.

“Coast guards patrol rescued 403 illegal immigrants in separate operations during the past few days,” said the navy spokesman Ayob Qassem.

The rescue operations took place off the coast of the city of Khoms, some 120 km east of the capital Tripoli, the spokesman said.

The rescued are of different African nationalities, Qassem said, adding that they were taken to reception centers.

TRIPOLI, Libya, Aug 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The UN Higher Commission of Refugees (UNHCR), said on Sunday, that, 1,350 refugees have been evacuated from Libya, to third countries in 2019.

On Saturday, “31 refugees left … with hopes to start a new chapter of their lives,” it added.

Because of the insecurity and chaos, Libya is a preferred point of departure for illegal immigrants, wanting to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe, many of whom drown on the way.

TRIPOLI, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Libya's east-based army said on Sunday that 12 troops of the rival UN-backed government were killed and more than 20 others injured in violent clashes near the city of Gharyan, some 80 km south of the capital Tripoli.

Those who were killed include a senior military commander and two Islamic State (IS) suspects, the army's information office said in a statement.

The statement also said the army took control of a position of the UN-backed government's forces near Gharyan.

24 Aug 2019; MEMO: The internationally-backed Libyan government yesterday announced that 17 fighters affiliated with General Khalifa Haftar handed themselves over in the south of the capital Tripoli, Anadolu Agency reported.

The government said in a statement that the fighters handed themselves over, along with their weapons, without giving more details.