Libya's Haftar Maintains Alert Level in Oil Crescent

A view shows El Feel oil field near Murzuq, Libya, July 6, 2017. REUTERS/Aidan Lewis
A view shows El Feel oil field near Murzuq, Libya, July 6, 2017. REUTERS/Aidan Lewis
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Libya's Haftar Maintains Alert Level in Oil Crescent

A view shows El Feel oil field near Murzuq, Libya, July 6, 2017. REUTERS/Aidan Lewis
A view shows El Feel oil field near Murzuq, Libya, July 6, 2017. REUTERS/Aidan Lewis

Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar stressed the need to remain on maximum alert in the Oil Crescent region.

During his meeting Wednesday with heads of military units, Haftar said in a statement that he was briefed on the success of the armed forces in defeating terrorist groups.

Libya's Mellitah Oil and Gas company announced on Thursday that one of its gas stations in western Libya exploded in a sabotage attack.

"Station No. 15, located along the gas pipeline linking Mellitah and Al-Wafa (gas) fields, has been subject to sabotage," the company said in a statement.

The company added that "an explosive device was planted in the station and it was set on fire," but emergency and firefighting teams managed to extinguish the blaze.

Meanwhile, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) denounced the attack by an armed group on the office of the CEO of the Brega oil and gas marketing company.

The NOC said the armed group is part of the Central Security Department in Tripoli, calling for a meeting with Emad Bin Kora - the CEO.

In another context, United Nations envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame said that he backs the proposal of holding presidential and parliamentary elections to resolve the problem of legitimacy and the duality of institutions in the legislative and executive authorities.



Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
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Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)

Christian leaders accused Israeli settlers on Monday of attacking sacred sites in the West Bank, in violence that one said was forcing some to consider quitting the occupied territory.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III - visiting the Christian town of Taybeh with other Jerusalem-based clerics - said settlers had started a fire near a cemetery and a 5th century church there last week.

"These actions are a direct and intentional threat to our local community ... but also to the historic and religious heritage," the patriarch told diplomats and journalists at a press conference in Taybeh.

Settlers had also attacked homes in the area, he said.

"We call for an immediate and transparent investigation on why the Israeli police did not respond to emergency calls from the local community and why these abhorrent actions continue to go unpunished," he added.

Israel's government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Israel's government had previously said that any acts of violence by civilians are unacceptable and that individuals should not take the law into their own hands.

During the visit, the heads of the churches led locals in prayer as candles flickered in the ruins of the 5th century church of St George. They spoke with residents who described their fears.

B'Tselem and other rights groups say settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israel's war against Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023.

Dozens of Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian street attacks in recent years and the Israeli military has intensified raids across the West Bank.

Palestinian health authorities and witnesses said two men, including a US citizen, were killed by settlers during a confrontation on Friday night.

Fears over violence were pushing Christians to leave the West Bank, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Roman Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, said.

"Unfortunately, the temptation to emigrate is there because of the situation," he added. "This time it's very difficult to see how and when this will finish, and especially for the youth to talk about hope, trust for the future."

Around 50,000 Christian Palestinians live in Jerusalem and in the West Bank, an area that includes many of the faith's most sacred sites including Bethlehem where believers say Jesus was born.

Around 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war, which Palestinians see as part of a future state.