‘American Threats’ behind Calm in Libya’s Sirte

Troops loyal to the GNA prepare themselves before heading to Sirte, in Tripoli, Libya, July 6, 2020. (Reuters)
Troops loyal to the GNA prepare themselves before heading to Sirte, in Tripoli, Libya, July 6, 2020. (Reuters)
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‘American Threats’ behind Calm in Libya’s Sirte

Troops loyal to the GNA prepare themselves before heading to Sirte, in Tripoli, Libya, July 6, 2020. (Reuters)
Troops loyal to the GNA prepare themselves before heading to Sirte, in Tripoli, Libya, July 6, 2020. (Reuters)

American officials recently informed the warring parties in Libya that any violation of the ongoing ceasefire in the strategic city of Sirte will lead to a severe response from the United States, informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

They said the response could lead to political and economic sanctions. The sources, which spoke on condition of anonymity, did not elaborate.

The calm in Sirte reflects the realization of the Libyan National Army (LNA) and Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) that the American threats this time around are different than ones in the past, they continued.

Washington is spearheading a political solution that would see Sirte transformed into the headquarters of a new authority that would be formed in Libya. It will be established after a ceasefire deal is reached and after all arms are removed from the city.

Both the LNA and GNA would withdraw their forces to a safe distance from Sirte, while oil production would resume and Turkey would pull out its forces and mercenaries from the country. The LNA, in turn, would end its association with the Russian Wagner Group.

On the ground, the LNA, commanded by Khalifa Haftar, accused Turkey of transforming western Libya into a camp for ISIS extremists.

LNA official Khaled Mahjoub revealed that Ankara, which backs the GNA, of bringing in 3,000 Syrian mercenaries to Libya. ISIS leaders are among them.

He accused Turkey of attempting to revive the “ISIS state” in western Libya, where the GNA is in control.



Israeli Soldiers Kill Palestinian Man in West Bank

A picture taken in the village of Turmus Ayya near Ramallah city shows the nearby Israeli Shilo settlement in the background, in the occupied West Bank on February 18, 2024. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
A picture taken in the village of Turmus Ayya near Ramallah city shows the nearby Israeli Shilo settlement in the background, in the occupied West Bank on February 18, 2024. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
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Israeli Soldiers Kill Palestinian Man in West Bank

A picture taken in the village of Turmus Ayya near Ramallah city shows the nearby Israeli Shilo settlement in the background, in the occupied West Bank on February 18, 2024. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
A picture taken in the village of Turmus Ayya near Ramallah city shows the nearby Israeli Shilo settlement in the background, in the occupied West Bank on February 18, 2024. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)

Palestinian authorities said Israeli troops killed a 55-year-old man in the north of the occupied West Bank on Thursday -- an incident the Israeli army said involved a stabbing attack.

The Ramallah-based health ministry said the body in charge of coordination with Israel informed it that soldiers "shot and killed" the man in Rummanah, near Jenin, in the morning.

The Israeli military said separately that troops deployed in the village "neutralised" a man after he stabbed and "moderately injured" a soldier, AFP reported.

The army generally uses the term "neutralised" after killing someone.

Violence in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has soared since the Hamas attack of October 2023.

A 12-year-old Palestinian boy died Thursday of wounds suffered during an army raid near the West Bank town of Nablus last week, the health ministry said.

Since October 7, 2023, Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 951 Palestinians, including many militants, the ministry said.

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Over the same period, at least 35 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations, according to Israeli figures.