Libya Says Attempts to Suspend Operations at Sharara Oil Field are 'Political Blackmail'

A picture taken on June 3, 2020 shows an oil refinery in Libya's northern town of Ras Lanuf. (AFP)
A picture taken on June 3, 2020 shows an oil refinery in Libya's northern town of Ras Lanuf. (AFP)
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Libya Says Attempts to Suspend Operations at Sharara Oil Field are 'Political Blackmail'

A picture taken on June 3, 2020 shows an oil refinery in Libya's northern town of Ras Lanuf. (AFP)
A picture taken on June 3, 2020 shows an oil refinery in Libya's northern town of Ras Lanuf. (AFP)

Libya's internationally recognized government condemned on Sunday attempts to shut operations at the Sharara oil field, describing them as "political blackmail".
In a statement, the government said it would not spare efforts to defend the interests of the Libyan people after local protesters partially shut down the field on Saturday, reported Reuters.
The Sharara field, one of Libya's largest production areas with a capacity of about 300,000 barrels per day, has been a frequent target of local protesters for various political reasons.



Lufthansa Extends Beirut Flight Suspension until October 15

The Lufthansa group, whose carriers also include SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, has not flown to Beirut since late July (File photo by Reuters)
The Lufthansa group, whose carriers also include SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, has not flown to Beirut since late July (File photo by Reuters)
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Lufthansa Extends Beirut Flight Suspension until October 15

The Lufthansa group, whose carriers also include SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, has not flown to Beirut since late July (File photo by Reuters)
The Lufthansa group, whose carriers also include SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, has not flown to Beirut since late July (File photo by Reuters)

German airline group Lufthansa said Thursday it was extending a suspension of flights to Lebanese capital Beirut until October 15 due to heightened regional tensions.

Services to Beirut had previously been suspended until the end of September, AFP reported.

The Lufthansa group, whose carriers also include SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, has not flown to Beirut since late July.

Lebanese group Hezbollah has traded near-daily fire with Israeli forces in support of ally Hamas since the Palestinian militant group's October 7 attack triggered war in the Gaza Strip.

Lufthansa had also suspended flights to Tel Aviv in Israel due to the tensions, but resumed them on September 5.

Flights to Tehran also resumed on September 5, although Austrian Airlines is currently the only airline in the group serving the Iranian capital, a Lufthansa spokesman told AFP.

Germany, France and Britain on Tuesday said they were taking steps to cancel air transport agreements with Iran because of what they said was Iran's delivery of ballistic missiles to Russia.

"The Lufthansa group is aware of the planned sanctions and is in contact with the relevant authorities," the spokesman said.

Germany's foreign ministry on Wednesday said the country was "currently in intensive consultation with its European and international partners about the imposition of new sanctions, including in the aviation sector".