LNA to Announce Liberation of Libya’s Derna City

General view of an empty street in Derna, Libya. (Reuters file photo)
General view of an empty street in Derna, Libya. (Reuters file photo)
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LNA to Announce Liberation of Libya’s Derna City

General view of an empty street in Derna, Libya. (Reuters file photo)
General view of an empty street in Derna, Libya. (Reuters file photo)

The military operation the in eastern city of Derna has concluded, announced the national security directorate that supports the Libyan government in the east.

The Libyan National Army (LNA), which has been waging the operation against terrorists in the city, has yet to declare the official liberation of Derna.

Locals told Asharq Al-Awsat that the residents took to the streets of Derna Friday to celebrate the liberation.

The city was considered one of the remaining terrorist bastions in Libya.

Meanwhile, already tense relations between LNA commander Khalifa Haftar and Government of National Accord head Fayez al-Sarraj became even more strained with the latter accusing his forces of launching rockets at a civilian jet that was transferring wounded from the southern al-Feel oilfield to Tripoli.

He said that the LNA’s firing of warning shots at the plane was a terrorist act that is barred by international treaties and laws.

Sarraj claimed that the attack damaged al-Feel oilfield’s infrastructure, revealing that legal measures have been taken to counter the violation.

Unofficial information said that the plane was set to transfer Ali Kenna, who was appointed by Sarraj as military commander of Sabha, to Tripoli.

The LNA had started imposing on Friday a flight ban at all airports in southern Libya, explaining that the region was a closed military zone. Any flight would need the approval of the LNA.

Any flight that enters the southern airspace will be targeted, it warned.



UN Calls for Independent Probe into Civilians Harmed Trying to Get Food in Gaza

 Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)
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UN Calls for Independent Probe into Civilians Harmed Trying to Get Food in Gaza

 Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday slammed as "unacceptable" the deaths of Palestinians seeking food aid in Gaza, a spokesman said, calling the loss of life in the territory "unthinkable".

"The Secretary-General continues to call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for the perpetrators to be held to account," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

"We are witnessing unthinkable loss of life in Gaza (and) the secretary-general condemns the loss of lives and injuries of Palestinians seeking aid," he said. "It is unacceptable civilians are risking and in several instances losing their lives just trying to get food."

At least 27 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded by Israeli fire near a food distribution site in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, local health authorities said, in the third day of chaos and bloodshed to affect the aid operation.

A spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross told Reuters that its field hospital in Rafah received 184 casualties, adding that 19 of those were declared dead upon arrival, and eight died of their wounds shortly after.

The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation launched its first distribution sites last week in an effort to alleviate widespread hunger amongst Gaza's war-battered population, most of whom have had to abandon their homes to flee fighting.

The Foundation's aid plan, which bypasses traditional aid groups, has come under fierce criticism from the United Nations and established charities which say it does not follow humanitarian principles.

The private group, which is endorsed by Israel, said it distributed 21 truckloads of food early on Tuesday and that the aid operation was "conducted safely and without incident within the site".

However, there have been reports of repeated killings near Rafah as crowds gather to get desperately needed supplies.

On Sunday, Palestinian and international officials reported that at least 31 people were killed and dozens more injured. On Monday, three more Palestinians were reportedly killed by Israeli fire.

The Israeli military has denied targeting civilians gathering for aid and called reports of deaths during Sunday’s distribution "fabrications" by Hamas.