Dbeibeh Surprises Libyans with Expanded National Unity Govt

Libyan Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dbeibeh. (Reuters)
Libyan Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dbeibeh. (Reuters)
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Dbeibeh Surprises Libyans with Expanded National Unity Govt

Libyan Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dbeibeh. (Reuters)
Libyan Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dbeibeh. (Reuters)

Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dbeibeh surprised Libyans with his announcement of an expanded national unity government.

In remarks late on Friday, he said the cabinet will be comprised of 35 ministers.

The lineup will be presented to parliament on Monday for a vote. The legislature will meet in the central city of Sirte.

The cabinet will be formed of 27 minister who will hold portfolios and six ministers of state.

Dbeibeh vowed that the ministers will prioritize the improvement of services provided to the people, the unification of state institutions and holding elections.

The PM has until March 19 to receive the parliament’s vote of confidence before embarking on the most challenging part of his mission, which is unifying institutions and leading the transitional phase until the December 24 elections are held.

Dbeibeh has divided the cabinet into seven sovereign and 14 service portfolios and six state ministers.

The lineup confirmed a previous Asharq Al-Awsat report that said Khaled Mazen would be appointed interior minister. Government of National Accord (GNA) Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha would no longer retain his post, despite the support he had received from Washington and Ankara.

He also named Lamia Bosidera, as foreign minister.

Dbeibeh will act as defense minister, similar to his predecessor GNA chief Fayez al-Sarraj.



Israel Kills 40 Palestinians in Gaza

Palestinians inspect the damage at the site of an Israeli strike on the Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, on July 9, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
Palestinians inspect the damage at the site of an Israeli strike on the Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, on July 9, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
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Israel Kills 40 Palestinians in Gaza

Palestinians inspect the damage at the site of an Israeli strike on the Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, on July 9, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
Palestinians inspect the damage at the site of an Israeli strike on the Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, on July 9, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)

At least 40 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, hospital officials said Wednesday.

Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis said the dead included 17 women and 10 children. It said one strike killed 10 people from the same family, including three children.

The Israeli military did not comment on specific strikes, but said it had struck more than 100 targets across Gaza over the past day, including militants, booby-trapped structures, weapons storage facilities, missile launchers and tunnels.

The war started after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. Most of the hostages have been released in earlier ceasefires.

Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.