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Libya: Clashes Erupt South of Tripoli Violating Ceasefire Deal

Smoke rises during heavy clashes between rival factions in Tripoli, Libya (File photo: Reuters)
Smoke rises during heavy clashes between rival factions in Tripoli, Libya (File photo: Reuters)
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Libya: Clashes Erupt South of Tripoli Violating Ceasefire Deal

Smoke rises during heavy clashes between rival factions in Tripoli, Libya (File photo: Reuters)
Smoke rises during heavy clashes between rival factions in Tripoli, Libya (File photo: Reuters)

Heavy clashes erupted Thursday in the Libyan capital violating the ceasefire deal, only to subside on Friday morning amid reports on the mobilization of troops of Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar and forces loyal to Government of National Accord (GNA) headed by Fayez al-Sarraj.

LNA advanced towards Tripoli as GNA forces retreated, a high-ranking military official told Asharq Al-Awsat in a brief statement.

The official, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the army forces managed during the past two days to thwart militia defenses in several areas of the capital, especially in its southern suburbs, but declined to reveal more details.

Heavy clashes erupted between the forces of the two parties near the diplomatic club in Ain Zara axis in southern Tripoli.

Two top officials of forces loyal to GNA stated they monitored LNA forces mobilizing in the areas of Qasr bin Ghashir, Tarhunah, and Sorman, adding that they transported artillery from al-Jafra airbase towards Tripoli.

Volcano of Rage Operation, launched by militias loyal to the GNA, indicated that LNA forces bombed the homes and properties of citizens, as worshipers went out for Friday prayers in the town of Abu Salim.

GNA Minister of Interior Fathi Bashagha pledged the ministry’s full support to the forces to liberate the entire country from LNA's "illegal militias".

In a statement, the minister said he was confident the government and supporting forces would fully liberate all areas.

Bashagha was visiting Sirte – al-Jufrah field operations room where he met with military officials and head of the operations room to discuss recent developments in the region and preparations to liberate the areas.

Meanwhile, Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed the recent developments of the Libyan crisis in the wake of the resignation of the UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame.

Aboul-Gheit discussed, over the phone, Salame’s resignation and conveyed to Guterres his sincere appreciation for the important role he has played for Libya's peace and stability. He expressed confidence in the UN to choose another distinguished Arab figure to succeed Salame and lead UNSMIL.

Guterres praised the Arab League’s firm commitment to settling the Libyan crisis, stressing that the UN will continue to build on the efforts launched by Salame, according to a source.

Aboul-Gheit said they discussed the Libyan developments after Saleme’s sudden resignation citing health issues, noting that he briefed Guterres on the results of the last ministerial meeting of the Arab League.

Arab countries are committed to helping settle the Libyan crisis by strengthening mechanisms of cooperation with the UN and continuing to coordinate with other partners concerned with Libyan affairs, asserted Aboul-Gheit.

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Lebanon on Bumpy Road to Public Transport Revival

Lebanon's public transport is yet to recover from the civil war that ended more than three decades ago. Joseph EID / AFP
Lebanon's public transport is yet to recover from the civil war that ended more than three decades ago. Joseph EID / AFP
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Lebanon on Bumpy Road to Public Transport Revival

Lebanon's public transport is yet to recover from the civil war that ended more than three decades ago. Joseph EID / AFP
Lebanon's public transport is yet to recover from the civil war that ended more than three decades ago. Joseph EID / AFP

On Beirut's chaotic, car-choked streets, Lebanese student Fatima Fakih rides a shiny purple bus to university, one of a fleet rolled out by authorities to revive public transport in a country struggling to deliver basic services.

The 19-year-old says the spacious public buses are "safer, better and more comfortable", than the informal network of private buses and minivans that have long substituted for mass transport.

"I have my bus card -- I don't have to have money with me," she added, a major innovation in Lebanon, where cash is king and many private buses and minivans have no tickets at all.

Lebanon's public transport system never recovered from the devastating 1975–1990 civil war that left the country in ruins, and in the decades since, car culture has flourished.

Even before the economic crisis that began in 2019 -- plunged much of the population into poverty and sent transport costs soaring -- the country was running on empty, grappling with crumbling power, water and road infrastructure.

But public buses, now equipped with GPS tracking, have been slowly returning.

They operate along 11 routes -- mostly in greater Beirut but also reaching north, south and east Lebanon -- with a private company managing operations. Fares start at about 80 cents.

Pre-war tram, trains

Passengers told AFP the buses were not only safer and more cost-effective, but more environmentally friendly.

They also offer a respite from driving on Lebanon's largely lawless, potholed roads, where mopeds hurtle in all directions and traffic lights are scarce.

The system officially launched last July, during more than a year of hostilities between Israel and militant group Hezbollah that later slammed the brakes on some services.

Ali Daoud, 76, who remembers Lebanon's long-defunct trains and trams, said the public bus was "orderly and organized" during his first ride.

The World Bank's Beirut office told AFP that Lebanon's "reliance on private vehicles is increasingly unsustainable", noting rising poverty rates and vehicle operation costs.

Ziad Nasr, head of Lebanon's public transport authority, said passenger numbers now averaged around 4,500 a day, up from just a few hundred at launch.

He said authorities hope to extend the network, including to Beirut airport, noting the need for more buses, and welcoming any international support.

France donated around half of the almost 100 buses now in circulation in 2022.

Consultant and transport expert Tammam Nakkash said he hoped the buses would be "a good start" but expressed concern at issues including the competition.

Private buses and minivans -- many of them dilapidated and barreling down the road at breakneck speed -- cost similar to the public buses.

Shared taxis are also ubiquitous, with fares starting at around $2 for short trips.

Several incidents of violence targeted the new public buses around their launch last year.

Environment

Student and worker Daniel Imad, 19, said he welcomed the idea of public buses but had not tried them yet.

People "can go where they want for a low price" by taking shared taxis, he said before climbing into a one at a busy Beirut intersection.

Public transport could also have environmental benefits in Lebanon, where climate concerns often take a back seat to daily challenges like long power blackouts.

A World Bank climate and development report last year said the transport sector was Lebanon's second-biggest contributor to greenhouse gas and air pollution, accounting for a quarter of emissions, only behind the energy sector.

Some smaller initiatives have also popped up, including four hybrid buses in east Lebanon's Zahle.

Nabil Mneimne from the United Nations Development Program said Lebanon's first fully electric buses with a solar charging system were set to launch this year, running between Beirut and Jbeil (Byblos) further north.

In the capital, university student Fakih encouraged everyone to take public buses, "also to protect the environment".

Beirut residents often complain of poor air quality due to heavy traffic and private, diesel-fueled electricity generators that operate during power outages.

"We don't talk about this a lot but it's very important," she said, arguing that things could improve in the city "if we all took public transport".