Libya’s Dbeibah Confronts ‘Rebellion’ of Misrata Military Council

Dbeibah meets with security and military officials to follow up on the developments in Misrata. (Dbeibah's press office)
Dbeibah meets with security and military officials to follow up on the developments in Misrata. (Dbeibah's press office)
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Libya’s Dbeibah Confronts ‘Rebellion’ of Misrata Military Council

Dbeibah meets with security and military officials to follow up on the developments in Misrata. (Dbeibah's press office)
Dbeibah meets with security and military officials to follow up on the developments in Misrata. (Dbeibah's press office)

Head of Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah ordered the formation of a security command center in Misrata city aimed at confronting the “rebellion” of armed groups led by Salah Badi, the commander of the Somoud Brigade.

On Saturday, the “military council – Misrata" announced it was reviving its activities in wake of the now sacked GNU Foreign Minister Najlaa al-Mangoush's meeting last month with her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen in Italy.

The military council is formed of several armed groups that are active in the area.

Misrata has since witnessed the heavy deployment of military groups that have threatened to act against the GNU over Mangoush’s meeting.

One of the groups of the military council issued a statement against the GNU, declaring its rejection of foreign meddling in Libya.

Khalid al-Farjany, one of the leading members of the council, said: “We won’t allow our nation to become hostage to any foreign agendas that will harm our security, sovereignty, nation and territorial integrity.”

He called on all cities to activate their military councils so that they can coordinate future moves together.

Badi, who is under international sanctions and one of the leaders of the military council, expressed his determination to intervene “by force” to remove those in power, accusing them of being traitors and foreign collaborators.

“Our country must be in safe hands, not in the hands of a traitorous agent,” he stressed.

In wake of the developments in Misrata, Dbeibah underscored the importance of coordinating efforts between security agencies to avert any unrest and violations.

A security plan must be adopted and implemented throughout Misrata, he added.



Israel Is Ramping up Annexation of West Bank, UN Rights Chief Says 

Israeli army vehicles block a road during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, 14 March 2025. (EPA)
Israeli army vehicles block a road during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, 14 March 2025. (EPA)
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Israel Is Ramping up Annexation of West Bank, UN Rights Chief Says 

Israeli army vehicles block a road during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, 14 March 2025. (EPA)
Israeli army vehicles block a road during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, 14 March 2025. (EPA)

Israel has significantly expanded and consolidated settlements in the occupied West Bank as part of the steady integration of these territories into the State of Israel, in breach of international law, the UN human rights office said on Tuesday.

The report to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council later this month comes amid growing fears of annexation amid US policy shifts under President Donald Trump and new settler outposts in areas of the West Bank seen as part of a future Palestinian state.

"The transfer by Israel of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies amounts to a war crime," UN High Commissioner Volker Turk said in a statement accompanying the report, urging the international community to take meaningful action on Israel’s advancing settlement.

"Israel must immediately and completely cease all settlement activities and evacuate all settlers, stop the forcible transfer of the Palestinian population, and prevent and punish attacks by its security forces and settlers," he said.

Israel disengaged from the UN Human Rights Council earlier this year, alleging a chronic anti-Israeli bias. Its military says it is conducting counter-terrorism operations in the West Bank and targeting suspected militants.