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International Anticipation of LNA’s Stance on Ceasefire

A plane flies over Mitiga airport following clashes, in Tripoli, Libya, January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny
A plane flies over Mitiga airport following clashes, in Tripoli, Libya, January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny
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International Anticipation of LNA’s Stance on Ceasefire

A plane flies over Mitiga airport following clashes, in Tripoli, Libya, January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny
A plane flies over Mitiga airport following clashes, in Tripoli, Libya, January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny

International and local circles are awaiting the response of Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar to the ceasefire announced by Head of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj and Speaker of the east-based Libyan parliament Aguila Saleh.

Sources close to the matter told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that Haftar is expected to soon announce a conditional approval.

Haftar, however, wonders about the fate of military agreements signed between Turkey and the GNA, in addition to the fate of ‘several thousands of mercenaries’ recruited by Ankara in the past months, the sources added.

They further revealed that secret talks were held between Saleh and Sarraj before their statements on committing to the truce and proposals to handle the oil issue and the placement of Sirte under US-UN protection.

The sources, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed that the US side presented guarantees on Turkish withdrawal from the country.

Saleh on Friday hailed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s “brave” stance after a comprehensive ceasefire was announced by conflicting parties in Libya. Saleh praised Sisi’s efforts that he said aimed at achieving stability in Libya.

Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee of the Libyan House of Representatives Talal al-Mayhoub considered that any peace talks would go in vain before dissolving the militias and the withdrawal of Turks and their affiliated mercenaries.

For its part, Libya's State Supreme Council reiterated unwillingness to hold talks with Haftar and demanded that Skheirat Agreement be the reference to any upcoming political dialogue.

Permanent Rep. of Libya to the UN Taher EL-Sonni wondered in a tweet if the party that waged the war, supported, and blessed it then got defeated would respect the ceasefire. Sonni stressed that any maneuvers or new threats would not be tolerated.

NA Spokesman Col.Mohammed Qanounou addressed the government’s supporters as he affirmed that the GNA intends to hand over Libyan territories, stressing that the Libyan state has the sole right to utilize resources, manage wealth, and export oil.

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Syria Says Israeli Strikes Kill 18 People in a Large-Scale Attack on Sites

Syrians inspect the damage at the site of overnight Israeli strikes on the outskirts of Masyaf in Syria's central Hama province on September 9, 2024. (AFP)
Syrians inspect the damage at the site of overnight Israeli strikes on the outskirts of Masyaf in Syria's central Hama province on September 9, 2024. (AFP)
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Syria Says Israeli Strikes Kill 18 People in a Large-Scale Attack on Sites

Syrians inspect the damage at the site of overnight Israeli strikes on the outskirts of Masyaf in Syria's central Hama province on September 9, 2024. (AFP)
Syrians inspect the damage at the site of overnight Israeli strikes on the outskirts of Masyaf in Syria's central Hama province on September 9, 2024. (AFP)

The number of people killed in overnight Israeli strikes in Syria has risen to 18 with dozens more wounded, Syria's health minister said Monday — the largest death toll in such an attack since the beginning of the war in Gaza.

One of the sites targeted was a research center used in the development of weapons, a war monitor said. Syrian officials said civilian sites were targeted.

Israel regularly targets military sites in Syria linked to Iran and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. Those strikes have become more frequent as Hezbollah has exchanged fire with Israeli forces for the past 11 months against the backdrop of Israel’s war against Hamas — a Hezbollah ally — in Gaza.

However, the intensity and death toll of Sunday night's strikes were unusual.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of war-torn Syria in recent years, but it rarely acknowledges or discusses the operations. The strikes often target Syrian forces or Iranian-backed groups.

Israel has vowed to stop Iranian entrenchment in Syria, particularly since Syria is a key route for Iran to send weapons to Hezbollah.

Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires, Syrian state news agency SANA said.

Speaking to reporters, Syrian Health Minister Hassan al-Ghabbash described the strikes as a "brutal and barbaric aggression." He said the death toll had risen to 18 with nearly 40 wounded.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, said 25 were killed, including at least five civilians, while the others included Syrian army soldiers and members of Hezbollah and other Iran-linked armed groups.

One strike targeted a scientific research center in Masyaf, and others sites where "Iranian militias and experts are stationed to develop weapons in Syria," the observatory said. It said the research center was reportedly used for developing weapons, including short- and medium-range precision missiles and drones.

Minister of Electricity Mohammad al-Zamel said the strikes had caused "truly significant" damage to water and electricity infrastructure.

"This brutal attack targeted civilian targets, and the martyrs were mostly civilians, as were the wounded," he said.

Muhammad Sumaya, a firefighter with the Hama Fire Brigade, was wounded when shrapnel from one of the strikes hit his foot.

When the strikes began, he said while being treated in the Masyaf hospital Monday, "we moved from one place to another to deal with the fires and work to extinguish them." While they were working, he said, "a missile landed right next to us."

Azzam al-Omar, a SANA photographer, said he was hit by shrapnel in the chest when a missile landed while he was photographing the aftermath of a strike.

Local media also reported strikes around the coastal city of Tartous, which the observatory said were the result of air defense missiles falling.

On Monday afternoon, a charred car remained at the scene of one strike and smoke was still rising from some spots where fires had been put out.