Libyan Army: 80 GNA Fighters Killed in Sirte Battles

Fighters loyal to the GNA pose for a group picture as they celebrate in the town of Tarhouna, about 65 kilometres southeast of the capital Tripoli on June 5, 2020. (Photo by Mahmud TURKIA / AFP)
Fighters loyal to the GNA pose for a group picture as they celebrate in the town of Tarhouna, about 65 kilometres southeast of the capital Tripoli on June 5, 2020. (Photo by Mahmud TURKIA / AFP)
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Libyan Army: 80 GNA Fighters Killed in Sirte Battles

Fighters loyal to the GNA pose for a group picture as they celebrate in the town of Tarhouna, about 65 kilometres southeast of the capital Tripoli on June 5, 2020. (Photo by Mahmud TURKIA / AFP)
Fighters loyal to the GNA pose for a group picture as they celebrate in the town of Tarhouna, about 65 kilometres southeast of the capital Tripoli on June 5, 2020. (Photo by Mahmud TURKIA / AFP)

The Libyan National Army’s media division declared that operations resumed Thursday through airstrikes that targeted sites of “militias and Turkish mercenaries” in As Saddadah, east of Misrata.

Brigadier-General Khalid al-Mahjoub said that more than 80 armed men fighting with the Government of National Accord (GNA) were killed in Sirte.

The fighters include Turkish soldiers, pro-Ankara mercenaries, and terrorist groups.

The Media Center of LNA’s Dignity Operations Room revealed that the strike resulted in casualties among “mercenaries and militants.”

Moreover, the LNA intensified airstrikes to foil the GNA’s efforts to move to the east and take over Sirte.

The Volcano of Rage Operation - launched by the GNA forces – revealed that it seized a major 350-km supply line linking the south to the west of Libya. This supply line was used for a year by the LNA during its attempts to liberate the capital Tripoli.

GNA’s Ministry of Interior accused the LNA of abducting a brigadier general from Sirte.

The ministry warned that it will not turn a blind eye to the kidnapping, calling on international and rights organizations and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to take action.

Despite the ongoing clashes between the GNA forces and the LNA in Misrata and Sirte, UNSMIL revealed that both parties’ delegations have engaged in the 3rd round of the Joint Military Commission (5 + 5) talks.

“While UNSMIL commends the seriousness and the commitment of both parties in the JMC dialogue track, it calls on them to de-escalate to avoid further civilian casualties and new waves of displacement,” it said.

The Mission is particularly concerned by reports of escalation and mobilization in and around Sirte.

Both meetings - which were conducted virtually - were productive and enabled UNSMIL to discuss with the delegations the latest developments on the ground and to receive their comments on the draft ceasefire agreement, as presented by the Mission to the parties on February 23.



Gaza Civil Defense Says Israeli Forces Kill 18

A Palestinian mourns a relative killed in a strike on a school-turned-shelter in northern Gaza - AFP
A Palestinian mourns a relative killed in a strike on a school-turned-shelter in northern Gaza - AFP
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Gaza Civil Defense Says Israeli Forces Kill 18

A Palestinian mourns a relative killed in a strike on a school-turned-shelter in northern Gaza - AFP
A Palestinian mourns a relative killed in a strike on a school-turned-shelter in northern Gaza - AFP

Gaza's civil defense agency said Israeli forces killed 18 people on Friday, including 10 who were waiting for aid in the south of the war-ravaged territory.

The fresh deaths came as the United Nations said nearly 800 people had been killed trying to access food in Gaza since late May, when Israel began easing a more than two-month total blockade on supplies.

UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said most of the deaths occurred near facilities operated by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, AFP reported.

"We've recorded now 798 killings, including 615 in the vicinity of the GHF sites," from the time the group's operations began in late May until July 7, Shamdasani said Friday.

An officially private effort, GHF operations have been marred by chaotic scenes and frequent reports of Israeli forces firing on people waiting to collect rations.

The UN and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the foundation over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives and violates basic humanitarian principles.

Responding to the UN's figures, Israel's military said it had worked to minimize "possible friction between the population and the army forces as much as possible".

"Following incidents in which harm to civilians who arrived at distribution facilities was reported, thorough examinations were conducted... and instructions were issued to forces in the field following lessons learned," it added.

Gaza civil defense official Mohammed al-Mughayyir said that 10 people were shot by Israeli forces on Friday while waiting for supplies in the Al-Shakoush area northwest of Rafah, where there are regular reports of deadly fire on aid seekers.

- 'Extremely difficult' -

The civil defense reported six more people killed in four separate Israeli airstrikes in the area of Khan Yunis, in the south of the territory.

Two drone strikes around Gaza City in the north killed two more people, civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.

There was no immediate comment on the latest strikes from the Israeli military, which has recently expanded its operations across Gaza.

Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defense agency and other parties.

A Palestinian speaking to AFP from southern Gaza on condition of anonymity reported ongoing attacks and widespread devastation, with Israeli tanks seen near Khan Yunis.

"The situation remains extremely difficult in the area -- intense gunfire, intermittent airstrikes, artillery shelling, and ongoing bulldozing and destruction of displacement camps and agricultural land to the south, west and north of Al-Maslakh," an area to Khan Yunis's south, said the witness.

Israel's military said in a statement that its soldiers were operating in the area, dismantling "terrorist infrastructure sites, both above and below ground", and seizing "weapons and military equipment".

The civil defense also reported on Friday five people killed in an Israeli strike the previous night on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Jabalia al-Nazla, in northern Gaza.

Nearly all of Gaza's population has been displaced at least once during the more than 21-month war, which has created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people living there.

Many have sought shelter in school buildings, but these have repeatedly come under Israeli attack, with the military often saying they were targeting Hamas militants hiding among civilians.