Western Powers, UN Express Concern over Intensifying Tripoli Fighting

A member of the LNA heads out of Benghazi to reinforce the troops advancing to Tripoli, Libya, April 7, 2019. (Reuters)
A member of the LNA heads out of Benghazi to reinforce the troops advancing to Tripoli, Libya, April 7, 2019. (Reuters)
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Western Powers, UN Express Concern over Intensifying Tripoli Fighting

A member of the LNA heads out of Benghazi to reinforce the troops advancing to Tripoli, Libya, April 7, 2019. (Reuters)
A member of the LNA heads out of Benghazi to reinforce the troops advancing to Tripoli, Libya, April 7, 2019. (Reuters)

The United States voiced on Sunday its “deep” concern over the fighting near Tripoli as the Libyan National Army (LNA) of commander Khalifa Haftar marched on the capital.

“We have made clear that we oppose the military offensive by LNA forces and urge the immediate halt to these military operations against the Libyan capital,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

He added that all parties involved have a responsibility to de-escalate the situation as announced by the UN Security Council and G7 group last week.

He urged Libyan factions to return to negotiations, saying that "there is no military solution to the Libya conflict."

The fighting has taken the United Nations by surprise and undermined plans to hold a national conference aimed at reaching agreement on a roadmap for elections to resolve the protracted instability in Libya.

UN envoy for Libya, Ghassan Salame, said the organization is determined to hold the planned conference on April 14-16.

The LNA announced its march west last week to eliminate remaining terrorist and criminal gangs from the region.

The United Nations said Monday 2,800 people had been displaced by clashes and many more could flee, though some were trapped.

LNA forces carried out air strikes on southern Tripoli on Sunday and made progress toward the city center, residents said.

The European Union joined the United Nations, United States and G7 bloc in calling for a ceasefire, a halt to Haftar's advance and return to political negotiations.

France said it had no prior warning of his push for Tripoli and denied it was secretly undermining the peace process, a diplomatic source said, according to Reuters.

A contingent of US forces evacuated at the weekend.

Forces with the Tripoli’s Government of National Accord have announced an operation to defend the capital called "Volcano of Anger".

Allied groups from Misrata along the coast have been moving pickup trucks fitted with machine guns into Tripoli.



Lebanese Authorities Uncover Hamas and Jamaa Islamiyya Training Camp in Aley

Lebanese soldiers deployed in downtown Beirut. (EPA file)
Lebanese soldiers deployed in downtown Beirut. (EPA file)
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Lebanese Authorities Uncover Hamas and Jamaa Islamiyya Training Camp in Aley

Lebanese soldiers deployed in downtown Beirut. (EPA file)
Lebanese soldiers deployed in downtown Beirut. (EPA file)

Lebanese security authorities have uncovered a covert military training camp in the Aley district, reportedly operated by members of the Palestinian Hamas movement and Lebanon’s al-Jamaa al-Islamiya.

The discovery comes amid a broader national crackdown on extremist cells, including ISIS affiliates, which have been attempting to reestablish a foothold in Lebanon.

According to a senior judicial source who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, the Lebanese Army dismantled the camp three weeks ago following the arrest of an armed group on the outskirts of the town of Tabbiyat in Mount Lebanon.

Although more than ten suspects have been detained, the military judiciary has yet to formally charge them.

The source revealed that the camp was fully equipped with weapons and training facilities and hosted Lebanese and foreign fighters. Among the detainees are individuals with significant militant experience, sons of former fighters who battled Israel in the south and were later assassinated. Most of the suspects are from Beirut, with some of Jordanian nationality.

Parallel to these discoveries, the army announced the arrest of a new ISIS cell. In a statement, the military said it had detained three Lebanese nationals involved in plotting attacks against army positions.

The suspects were reportedly acting under the direction of ISIS operatives based abroad.

Interrogations are ongoing, and authorities are working to apprehend additional members of the cell.

The arrest comes amid a resurgence of concern over extremist activity in Lebanon, especially following renewed instability in neighboring Syria.

However, another judicial source downplayed the threat, saying recent media reports about an alleged suicide bombing plot in Beirut’s southern suburbs were exaggerated.

The source confirmed the arrest of two Syrian nationals, Khaled al-Zoubi and Mohammed al-Ajlouni, who had illegally entered Lebanon after the collapse of Syrian government control in certain areas.

They had taken refuge in Sidon and were allegedly preparing to plant an explosive device on a motorcycle in a crowded area. However, no evidence was found that they possessed the necessary weapons or explosives to carry out such an attack.

The source emphasized that while many of the detainees show signs of radicalization, few possess the capabilities to act.

“ISIS does not activate cells without providing weapons and clearly defined targets. Most recent claims of plots have been overblown and possibly politically motivated, particularly after the unrest in Syria’s Sweida province,” he said.

Meanwhile, recent arrests of Syrians in the Beirut suburb of Bourj al-Barajneh and the Bekaa town of Shmestar were initially linked to ISIS, but later disproven.

Security sources clarified that the detainees were involved in human smuggling and were not connected to any militant group. Their arrests coincided with Ashoura commemorations, prompting suspicion.

“Security concerns are valid,” one official said, “but they must not be used to incite fear or mislead the public.”