LNA Extends No-Fly Zone Above Tripoli

Libyan National Army (LNA) members head out of Benghazi to reinforce troops advancing towards Tripoli, in Benghazi, Libya, April 7, 2019. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
Libyan National Army (LNA) members head out of Benghazi to reinforce troops advancing towards Tripoli, in Benghazi, Libya, April 7, 2019. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
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LNA Extends No-Fly Zone Above Tripoli

Libyan National Army (LNA) members head out of Benghazi to reinforce troops advancing towards Tripoli, in Benghazi, Libya, April 7, 2019. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
Libyan National Army (LNA) members head out of Benghazi to reinforce troops advancing towards Tripoli, in Benghazi, Libya, April 7, 2019. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori

The Libyan National Army, led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar, has announced the expansion of war area near Misrata and extending no-fly zone above the capital, Tripoli.

LNA Spokesman Major General Ahmed al-Mismari announced Wednesday the expansion of the no-fly zone in the western region to include Mitiga airport in Tripoli, as of 9:00 pm on Thursday (local time).

He called on airlines to immediately adhere to the announcement text for their aircraft not to be destructed.

Meanwhile, the LNA Military Information Division announced in a statement that its air defense platforms had succeeded in targeting a drone, which raided the army forces. It said the drone was shot down in the Abugrein area.

Five of the Special Forces’ 302 battalions were killed in Sirte as a result of a drone attack.

It also announced that air force fighters launched Wednesday a series of airstrikes targeting warehouses of weapons and ammunition and a gathering of mercenaries in Jubia camp, south Nalut (60 km from the Tunisian border in western Libya).

It added that the LNA military units have advanced in more than one battlefield in the capital and extended its control over new sites after violent clashes, in which it let the “enemy suffer great losses.”

The Division also indicated that the military units have captured a number of Sarraj-backed militants after advancing in Salah Eddine, southern Tripoli, and arrested a member of the so-called Benghazi Defense Brigades (BDB) while attempting to flee from Sirte.

Meanwhile, the Volcano of Rage operation, launched by Saraj’s Government of National Accord (GNA) forces, published on Wednesday photos showing what it described as an accurate air force targeting the LNA gatherings in Bouirat al-Hassoun area, west of Sirte.

It also quoted field sources as announcing the killing of 18 LNA members.

In other news, the LNA announced carrying out airstrikes on Wednesday targeting the coastal road west of the city of Sirte, a day after nine of its members were killed in a strike carried out by the GNA forces.

LNA forces have taken control of the strategic city of Sirte, which is located in the center of the Libyan coast on the Mediterranean and seeks to boost their gains.



Israel Denounced over Gaza Health Emergency at WHO Meeting

Palestinians evacuate Kamal Adwan hospital following an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, May 21, 2024. (Reuters)
Palestinians evacuate Kamal Adwan hospital following an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, May 21, 2024. (Reuters)
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Israel Denounced over Gaza Health Emergency at WHO Meeting

Palestinians evacuate Kamal Adwan hospital following an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, May 21, 2024. (Reuters)
Palestinians evacuate Kamal Adwan hospital following an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, May 21, 2024. (Reuters)

More than 30 countries condemned Israel's attacks on hospitals in Gaza and demanded more scrutiny of its role in the enclave's health crisis at a World Health Organization meeting on Wednesday, and some blamed Israel for a growing risk of famine.

The WHO has recorded hundreds of attacks on health facilities in the occupied Palestinian territories, which includes Gaza, since the Oct. 7 Israel-Hamas conflict began, but does not attribute blame.

The latest phase of the conflict this month has seen Israel launch a military operation against Rafah, blocking patient transfers, all but cutting off medical supplies and threatening its last functioning hospital.

A group of countries are backing a proposal at the WHO's annual assembly in Geneva that would mandate the UN health agency to boost documentation of the "catastrophic humanitarian crisis" in Gaza and report on "starvation" amid UN warnings of famine and disease after nearly eight months of conflict.

The motion is supported by over 30 countries mostly from Africa and the Gulf region but also Russia, Türkiye and China but even more spoke in favor of it. A vote is expected later on Wednesday.

"The healthcare system of Gaza is devastated. Israel has targeted hospitals in Gaza, completely destroying treatment facilities. This also means a war against the fundamental right to health," said Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca.

He also accused Israel of using hunger as a weapon of war and said its actions against hospitals amounted to a war crime.

Palestine's ambassador Ibrahim Khraishi urged countries to support the motion. "We cannot allow Israel to destroy everything, to destroy health care facilities and to allow this to happen," he told the crowded meeting room.

Israel's ambassador Meirav Eilon Shahar blamed Hamas for "deliberately putting the safety of patients at risk" by using health facilities for military purposes. It submitted an amendment to include a reference to the 250 hostages seized during the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks which killed 1,200 people and to condemn the use of hospitals by armed groups.

Israel denies responsibility for delays in getting aid into Gaza and says the UN and others are responsible for its distribution once inside.

Ireland was one of just a handful of countries to call for the release of the hostages in a speech where it also asked Israel to cease its Rafah operation.