US Pledges to Support Unity of Libyan Military

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Abdoulaye Bathily, and municipal leaders in the Amazigh town of Jadu in western Libya. Photo: Bathily's account on X
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Abdoulaye Bathily, and municipal leaders in the Amazigh town of Jadu in western Libya. Photo: Bathily's account on X
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US Pledges to Support Unity of Libyan Military

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Abdoulaye Bathily, and municipal leaders in the Amazigh town of Jadu in western Libya. Photo: Bathily's account on X
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Abdoulaye Bathily, and municipal leaders in the Amazigh town of Jadu in western Libya. Photo: Bathily's account on X

The United States has expressed continued support for efforts to unify the Libyan military.

During a visit this week to Misrata and Al Khoms, “the US Defense Attache delegation made productive visits to the Central Military Zone, Al Khoms naval base, and various important military and counterterrorism forces,” the US embassy to Libya said on X.

The statement expressed US appreciation to these forces’ strategic role and commitment to peace.

“We will continue to support efforts in all regions of Libya to promote enduring security, unify the Libyan military, and safeguard Libyan sovereignty,” it added.

Meanwhile, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Abdoulaye Bathily, met on Monday with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Libya Shimmura Izuru.

“We reviewed the current political, security, and economic landscape, and the challenges to advancing the political process, including forming a unified government,” Bathily said on X.

He also met with French Ambassador Mustafa Mihraj to discuss the latest political and security developments in Libya and the prospects for reviving the stalled political process.

“We also touched on the situation in neighboring countries and the possible impact on Libya,” Bathily said on X.

Furthermore, Bathily visited the Amazigh town of Jadu in western Libya and met with municipal leaders there.

“Throughout my visits to numerous cities, engaging with a variety of citizens and cultural groups, I’ve discerned a clear desire among the Libyan people to resolve this crisis and achieve stability. The responsibility for the current division in the country squarely lies with its political leaders,” Bathily stated.

“Given that electoral laws are in place, the time is now ripe for a political settlement and the formation of a unified government to lead the country until elections are completed. I urge you, as Amazigh municipal leaders, to engage with national leaders to find a solution to the Libyan crisis,” he added.



Israel Keeps Up Gaza Bombardment as Ceasefire Talks Intensify

Smoke rises following an explosion in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Dec.18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Smoke rises following an explosion in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Dec.18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
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Israel Keeps Up Gaza Bombardment as Ceasefire Talks Intensify

Smoke rises following an explosion in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Dec.18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Smoke rises following an explosion in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Dec.18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

US and Arab mediators are working round-the-clock to hammer out a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, sources close to the talks said, while in the Gaza Strip medics said Israeli strikes had killed 13 Palestinians on Thursday.
The mediators, at talks in Egypt and Qatar, seek to forge a deal to pause the 14-month-old war in the Hamas-ruled enclave that would include a release of hostages seized from Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, along with Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, Reuters said.
Mediators had managed to narrow some gaps on previous sticking points but differences remained, the sources said.
In Gaza, medics said at least 13 Palestinians were killed overnight in separate Israeli airstrikes, including on two houses in Gaza City and a central camp.
Residents of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, where the army has operated since October, said forces blew up clusters of houses overnight.
"The longer those talks last, the more destruction and death takes place in Gaza. Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya are being wiped out, Rafah too," said Adel, 60, a resident of Jabalia, who is now displaced in Gaza City.
Palestinians accuse Israel of ethnic cleansing in those areas by depopulating residents to create buffer zones. Israel denies this and says its campaign aims to wipe out Hamas, a militant group, and to prevent it from regrouping.
Israel accuses Hamas of exploiting civilian infrastructure and the population as a human shield for its activities. Hamas denies it and accuses Israel of trying to justify the indiscriminate killing of Palestinian civilians.
PHASED OR COMPREHENSIVE?
Sources close to the mediation efforts said Hamas had pushed for a one-package deal but Israel wanted a phased one. Talks are focused on a first-phase release of hostages, dead or alive, as well as a number of Palestinians jailed by Israel.
On Tuesday, the sides discussed the numbers and categories of those to be released, but things have yet to be finalized, said a source who spoke anonymously because of the sensitivity of the talks.
The source said one issue was Israel's demand to retain the right to act against any possible military threat from Gaza and the stationing of Israeli forces during phases of the deal.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday Israel will have security control over Gaza with full freedom of action after defeating Hamas in the enclave.
Israel launched its air and ground assault on Gaza after Hamas-led fighters attacked Israeli communities 14 months ago, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel says about 100 hostages are still being held, but it is unclear how many are alive.
Israel's campaign has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, displaced most of the 2.3 million population and reduced much of the coastal enclave to ruins.
On Thursday, Human Rights Watch said Israel had killed thousands of Palestinians in Gaza by denying them clean water which it says legally amounts to acts of genocide and extermination.
Israel's foreign ministry accused the rights group of lying, writing on X that Israel had facilitated the continuous flow of water and humanitarian aid into Gaza since the start of the war despite constant attacks by Hamas.