Salame Discusses al-Multaqa al-Watani Preparations with Aboul Gheit, Sarraj

Al-Sarraj during his meeting with Salame and Williams. Presidential Council
Al-Sarraj during his meeting with Salame and Williams. Presidential Council
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Salame Discusses al-Multaqa al-Watani Preparations with Aboul Gheit, Sarraj

Al-Sarraj during his meeting with Salame and Williams. Presidential Council
Al-Sarraj during his meeting with Salame and Williams. Presidential Council

Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit has discussed with the head of the UN mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Ghassan Salame, preparations for the so-called al-Multaqa al-Watani that is set to take place in the coming weeks.

Mahmoud Afifi, spokesman for the Arab League secretary general, said that Aboul Gheit and Salame discussed during a phone conversation on Thursday the latest arrangements made by UNSMIL to organize the meeting.

The Arab League leader and the UN envoy agreed to continue coordination into encouraging all Libyan factions to assume their responsibilities in overcoming the country’s problems, said Afifi.

They also discussed the need to back all efforts to consolidate security and stability across Libya and to unify the country’s institutions.

The UN mission also announced Thursday that Salame and Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs in Libya Stephanie Williams discussed preparations for al-Multaqa al-Watani in a meeting with the head of the Government of National Accord, Fayez al-Sarraj.

“They stressed the need to expedite implementation of the security arrangements for Tripoli and to continue economic reforms & service delivery,” UNSMIL said in a tweet.

The meeting came as a security official in the capital confirmed media reports that several state institutions had been temporarily evacuated over fears of attacks by the ISIS terrorist group.

The official refused to reveal the source of the security threats. But stressed that security agencies have upped their measures near most state agencies and institutions.

These developments came just two days after the GNA’s interior minister, Basha Agha, said that ISIS has a presence in Tripoli and that its militants are freely roaming in the city and its suburbs.



Israeli Defense Minister Says Troops Will Remain in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria Indefinitely 

15 April 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Smoke billows after an Israeli air strike seen from Jabalia camp. (dpa) 
15 April 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Smoke billows after an Israeli air strike seen from Jabalia camp. (dpa) 
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Israeli Defense Minister Says Troops Will Remain in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria Indefinitely 

15 April 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Smoke billows after an Israeli air strike seen from Jabalia camp. (dpa) 
15 April 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Smoke billows after an Israeli air strike seen from Jabalia camp. (dpa) 

Israel’s defense minister said Wednesday that troops will remain in so-called security zones in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely.

“Unlike in the past, the (Israeli military) is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized,” Israel Katz said in a statement. The military “will remain in the security zones as a buffer between the enemy and (Israeli) communities in any temporary or permanent situation in Gaza — as in Lebanon and Syria.”

Israeli forces have taken over large areas of Gaza in recent weeks in a renewed campaign to pressure Hamas to release hostages after Israel ended their ceasefire last month.

Israel has also refused to withdraw from some areas in Lebanon following a ceasefire with the Hezbollah group last year, and it seized a buffer zone in southern Syria after the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.

Israel says it must maintain control of such territories to prevent a repeat of Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack, in which thousands of gunmen stormed into southern Israel from Gaza.