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Libya: LNA Accuses Turkey of Targeting Civilians in Asbiah

Fayez al-Sarraj met new AFRICOM Commander Townsend and US Ambassador Norland in Tunis on Monday (Photo: US Embassy Tripoli).
Fayez al-Sarraj met new AFRICOM Commander Townsend and US Ambassador Norland in Tunis on Monday (Photo: US Embassy Tripoli).
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Libya: LNA Accuses Turkey of Targeting Civilians in Asbiah

Fayez al-Sarraj met new AFRICOM Commander Townsend and US Ambassador Norland in Tunis on Monday (Photo: US Embassy Tripoli).
Fayez al-Sarraj met new AFRICOM Commander Townsend and US Ambassador Norland in Tunis on Monday (Photo: US Embassy Tripoli).

The Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, accused Turkey of targeting civilians in Asbiah in support of forces loyal to Fayez al-Sarraj’s Government of National Accord (GNA).

Media center of the National Army's “Dignity Operations” room said that Turkish drones, brought by the Sarraj government, bombed Asbiah, 120 km southwest of Tripoli, killing four.

It warned that criminals will be punished.

Sarraj met with the new US Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, and the new commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), Gen. Stephen Townsend, in Tunis on Monday. 

The meeting focused on the security environment in Libya, the importance of addressing the existing violent extremist threat, and the need to resolve the current conflict through political negotiation.

Sarraj reiterated that his forces are determined to defend the capital. He also praised the cooperation with the US in various areas, namely the war on terrorism.

Norland asserted there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis, adding that the US seeks to end the military operations, and find diplomatic solutions to achieve stability and prosperity in Libya to build a democratic civil state.

AFRICOM issued a statement following the meeting, saying Townsend traveled to Tunis for meetings focused on US-Tunisian bilateral security and on US security interests in neighboring Libya. 

“We emphasized to Prime Minister Sarraj the importance of supporting a diplomatic solution to put an end to the current conflict,” said Townsend.

In addition, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative (SGSR), Ghassan Salame, and his Deputy for Political Affairs Stephanie Williams met with the AFRICOM Commander and the US Ambassador in Tunis. 

The UN Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said in a statement that Salame briefed the officials on the ongoing dynamics and prospects for a resumption of the political process. They all agreed that a political settlement is the only way forward to prevent Libya’s insecurity to prevail.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister of the Interim Libyan government Abdul Hadi al-Hweij said the national army was engaged in a decisive and impartial battle to eradicate terrorism and its militias.

Hweij said at a symposium organized by the Egyptian Trade Union in Cairo that the national armed forces managed to control 90 percent of the Libyan state's territory.

He indicated that the forces are seven kilometers from Tripoli.

In other news, Italian aid group Mediterranea said one of its ships, Mare Jonio, has rescued about 100 migrants, including eight pregnant women and 22 children and at least 6 others minors.

The NGO tweeted that the rescue happened early on Wednesday after the Mare Jonio spotted a rubber dinghy on its radar.

“It was overcrowded, drifting and with a tubular already deflated. Luckily we arrived in time to rescue them,” said Mediterranea.

It asserted that the migrants were all safe on board, with several cases of hypothermia, with some having clear signs of mistreatment and torture suffered in Libya.

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Arab World

Palestinian Leader Abbas Announces Presidential Election in Early 2027

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (AFP file photo)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (AFP file photo)
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Palestinian Leader Abbas Announces Presidential Election in Early 2027

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (AFP file photo)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (AFP file photo)

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has issued a decree calling for presidential elections in early 2027 and for legislative elections to be held in November of this year, official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, without saying if he would run.

"President Mahmoud Abbas announced that presidential elections will be held in early 2027," Wafa said, citing a statement from the presidency.

The 90-year-old leader's decree also calls for legislative elections to take place in November of this year, it added.

Arab World

MSF Sacks 18 Staff Over Abuse of Sudanese Refugees in Chad

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Deputy Director General SungAh Lee visits the IOM registration office for returnees at the Adre border post on June 8, 2026. (AFP)
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Deputy Director General SungAh Lee visits the IOM registration office for returnees at the Adre border post on June 8, 2026. (AFP)
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MSF Sacks 18 Staff Over Abuse of Sudanese Refugees in Chad

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Deputy Director General SungAh Lee visits the IOM registration office for returnees at the Adre border post on June 8, 2026. (AFP)
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Deputy Director General SungAh Lee visits the IOM registration office for returnees at the Adre border post on June 8, 2026. (AFP)

Dozens of Doctors Without Borders staff have been accused of sexually abusing Sudanese refugees in Chad, the organization said Monday, adding that it dismissed 18 workers after investigations found "serious misconduct".

The medical charity, which goes by its French acronym MSF, said it had launched a series of investigations into "serious allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse" put forward in late 2024 by Sudanese refugees hosted in eastern Chad.

Since breaking out in April 2023, Sudan's civil war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 12 million people, nearly one million of whom have fled west to Chad, according to the United Nations.

In an email confirming information first reported by the Associated Press, MSF -- one of the biggest organizations providing aid in the refugee camps in eastern Chad -- said its investigations had found a number of cases of "serious misconduct".

"We deeply regret the harm caused," it said.

The medical charity described how its investigations had over several months "identified allegations of misconduct, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse".

"While some of the 59 allegations were corroborated by the review, others remained unverified as in some cases neither victims nor perpetrators could be identified," it said, stressing that "where investigations established serious misconduct, immediate disciplinary action was taken".

"As a result, 18 staff have been dismissed and are now barred from working with MSF."

The organization said the accused workers belonged to several employment categories, including contracted staff, daily workers, external contractors and suppliers.

"To protect the confidentiality, privacy and safety of those affected, in line with a survivor-centered approach, we are not able to share further details on individual cases or outcomes," the organization said.

The charity stressed that "this misconduct represents a serious breach of MSF's values and responsibilities.

"We continue to work to strengthen our prevention, detection and response systems," it said.

"We encourage staff, patients and community members to report to us any misconduct and are committed to ensuring that our reporting channels are safe, accessible and trusted."

Arab World

Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Egypt Approves Yahya Diab as Acting Head of Syria’s Mission

**Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the Arab Summit in Cairo in March 2025 (Egyptian Presidency)**
**Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the Arab Summit in Cairo in March 2025 (Egyptian Presidency)**
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Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Egypt Approves Yahya Diab as Acting Head of Syria’s Mission

**Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the Arab Summit in Cairo in March 2025 (Egyptian Presidency)**
**Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the Arab Summit in Cairo in March 2025 (Egyptian Presidency)**

Two Syrian sources, one of them at the Foreign Ministry, told Asharq Al-Awsat that Egypt has informed Syria of its approval of Ambassador Yahya Diab to head the Syrian diplomatic mission in Cairo, following its reservations over the previous nominee.

A Syrian source familiar with the matter said Diab had already been informed that Cairo had approved his nomination and that he is currently working to conclude his commitments outside Syria before returning to Damascus to take the necessary steps to assume his duties in Egypt.

However, the source noted that Diab had not been informed whether he had been nominated as ambassador or as chargé d’affaires.

“If he is nominated as ambassador, the decision will be issued through a presidential decree addressed to Egypt. A chargé d’affaires, however, is appointed by a decision of the foreign minister,” the source said.

Another source at the Syrian Foreign Ministry revealed that Diab would be appointed as “chargé d’affaires of the Syrian ambassador to Egypt,” adding that he is also likely to serve as Syria’s permanent representative to the League of Arab States, unless another candidate is nominated for that position, which does not require approval from the Egyptian authorities.

He added: “Arrangements are currently underway to obtain the necessary accreditation from Cairo so that the new Syrian mission can begin its work as soon as possible.”

Asharq Al-Awsat was unable to reach Egypt’s Foreign Ministry for confirmation.

Yahya Diab (Syrian Memory Platform)

‘In Response to the Egyptian Side’

About a week ago, a Syrian Foreign Ministry source told Asharq Al-Awsat the name of the new ambassador nominated to represent Syria in Egypt, replacing Mohammad Taha Al-Ahmad, whose nomination Cairo had objected to.

At the time, the source said the new nominee was Yahya Diab and that his nomination “came in response to the Egyptian side and out of a desire to advance relations between the two countries toward deeper and broader horizons.”

At the time, an Egyptian official source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Syrian government had submitted another candidate to head its diplomatic mission in Cairo, noting that matters were “moving toward the approval of the new nominee by the Egyptian authorities.”

The source added that “matters are proceeding normally and positively with the Syrian side.”

Diab is a member of the executive office and the office for foreign relations and diplomats at the Free National Gathering of Employees in Syrian State Institutions. Before the Syrian revolution, he served in several diplomatic postings in Rome, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Belgrade. He also headed the trade union committee at the Syrian Foreign Ministry and holds a law degree from Damascus University.

A report published by Asharq Al-Awsat on June 1 cited a source familiar with the matter as saying that Cairo had objected to the nomination of Taha Al-Ahmad as Syria’s ambassador to Egypt and that “Egyptian reservations” were hindering the reception of a number of members of the Syrian diplomatic mission.

Prospects for Cooperation

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Egyptian-Syrian relations have moved cautiously toward bilateral engagement due to Cairo’s concerns regarding the issue of armed groups, before gradually shifting toward economic cooperation.

In late April, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met his counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the Arab-European Consultative Summit held in Cyprus. Media outlets in Cairo and Damascus reported at the time that the two leaders held a “friendly discussion” on regional developments and ways to enhance cooperation.

In January, Damascus hosted the first Egyptian-Syrian Economic and Investment Forum, with the participation of a number of Egyptian business, finance and chamber of commerce leaders. The event aimed to build effective partnerships between the two countries and explore opportunities for cooperation in trade, industry, services, infrastructure and reconstruction.

Last Saturday, Mohamed Omar Abdel Aziz El-Feki, chargé d’affaires of the Egyptian embassy in Damascus, said Egypt is looking to expand cooperation with Syria across various sectors, particularly in reconstruction.

He made the remarks to reporters following a tour of the Buildex International Construction Exhibition in Damascus, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

At the same event, Haitham Hussein, chairman of Egypt Industrial Complex, announced plans to establish a large industrial zone in Syria during the coming phase to support production and create employment opportunities.

Hussein said the proposed project would focus on food-processing, textile and agricultural industries, as well as sectors linked to reconstruction. He also stressed the importance of establishing integrated industrial cities capable of meeting the requirements of the next stage.