UN Chief Condemns 'Unprecedented' Foreign Interference in Libya

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. (Getty Images)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. (Getty Images)
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UN Chief Condemns 'Unprecedented' Foreign Interference in Libya

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. (Getty Images)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. (Getty Images)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday that foreign interference in the Libya conflict has reached "unprecedented levels," with sophisticated equipment and mercenaries involved in the fighting.

Guterres denounced the situation during a ministers-level UN Security Council video conference, expressing particular concern about the military forces massing around the city of Sirte, halfway between Tripoli in the west and Benghazi in the east.

"The conflict has entered a new phase with foreign interference reaching unprecedented levels, including in the delivery of sophisticated equipment and the number of mercenaries involved in the fighting," he said.

Forces loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA), "with significant external support, continued their advance eastward" and are 25 kilometers (15 miles) west of Sirte, Guterres said.

GNA units had tried twice before to seize the city, he noted.

The government, with Turkey's backing, is battling forces loyal to the Libyan National Army, commanded by Khalifa Haftar.

"We are very concerned about the alarming military build-up around the city, and the high-level of direct foreign interference in the conflict in violation of the UN arms embargo, UN Security Council resolutions, and commitments made by member states in Berlin" in January, Guterres said.

He did not name any particular countries.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, whose country holds the rotating Security Council presidency, slammed violations of the arms embargo in place for Libya since 2011.

"While the entire world closed its borders, ships, planes and trucks with weapons and mercenaries continued to arrive in Libyan cities," he said.

His counterpart from Niger, Kalla Ankourao, joined many others in echoing Guterres' comments.

"Libya does not need more weapons, does not need mercenaries" but rather "reconciliation," Ankourao said.

Guterres said UN-led talks with military leaders from both sides were focused on the departure of foreign mercenaries, counter-terrorism cooperation, "disarmament and demobilization of armed groups throughout Libya, and modalities for a possible ceasefire mechanism."

He also raised the possibility of creating a demilitarized zone to be controlled by the UN mission in Libya.

The presence in Libya of Russian and Syrian mercenaries has been raised as problematic since the start of the year.

Guterres said the latest fighting in southern Tripoli and the Tarhouna region had forced nearly 30,000 people to flee the violence, bringing the total of internally displaced people in Libya to more than 400,000.



Lebanese President Acknowledges ‘Slow Progress’ in Talks with Hezbollah on Disarmament

Aoun receives the key to the area of Sin al-Fil, where he lived before his election. (Lebanese Presidency)
Aoun receives the key to the area of Sin al-Fil, where he lived before his election. (Lebanese Presidency)
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Lebanese President Acknowledges ‘Slow Progress’ in Talks with Hezbollah on Disarmament

Aoun receives the key to the area of Sin al-Fil, where he lived before his election. (Lebanese Presidency)
Aoun receives the key to the area of Sin al-Fil, where he lived before his election. (Lebanese Presidency)

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun acknowledged on Friday that negotiations with Hezbollah over its weapons are ongoing, though progressing slowly.

Speaking amid heightened tensions along the southern border with Israel, Aoun emphasized that dialogue is being conducted directly with Hezbollah, not through a formal security committee, and expressed cautious optimism over a gradual breakthrough.

“There is some responsiveness to the ideas we’re discussing, even if things are moving at a slow pace,” said Aoun, stressing that neither party desires war, which would carry severe consequences for all sides.

His remarks come as Hezbollah issued its first public response to the recent visit by US envoy Tom Barrack, rejecting the American proposal focused on centralizing arms under the Lebanese state.

Hezbollah insisted it is only concerned with implementing UN Resolution 1701, which calls for Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory and a cessation of hostilities.

Aoun reiterated Lebanon’s demand for Israel to adhere to the ceasefire agreement and withdraw from the remaining five occupied hills in the south, noting that full army deployment remains hindered in areas still under Israeli control.

During his visit to Beirut this week, Barrack pushed for a “monopoly of arms” by the Lebanese state, declaring that the US will only support Lebanon if its government commits to ensuring that only official forces carry weapons.

In a statement, he reinforced that Hezbollah, in its entirety, is viewed by Washington as a foreign terrorist organization, with no distinction between its political and military wings.

He added that the responsibility now lies with Lebanon’s political leadership and army to seize this opportunity and build a future free of Hezbollah’s grip.

Hezbollah MP Ihab Hamadeh dismissed the American initiative, affirming that the group is aligned with the stance of parliament and ally Speaker Nabih Berri and will only engage within the framework of Resolution 1701.

He acknowledged a general agreement on the principle of state monopoly over arms, but argued that this must be accompanied by a comprehensive national defense strategy, especially in light of ongoing Israeli attacks.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have intensified, targeting South Lebanon throughout the week. On Friday, an Israeli drone strike killed a Hezbollah member in Bint Jbeil, while other raids reportedly hit weapons depots and rocket launch sites. Tensions escalated further when an Israeli soldier shot a Lebanese civilian near the border.

In response to repeated attacks, residents of the border town Aita al-Shaab issued a strongly worded statement condemning the government’s inaction and warning that they may resort to self-defense.

“Security is not a luxury; it is our right,” the statement read.