Williams Praises ‘Valuable’ Discussion on Disarmament in Libya

UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams (UNSMIL)
UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams (UNSMIL)
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Williams Praises ‘Valuable’ Discussion on Disarmament in Libya

UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams (UNSMIL)
UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams (UNSMIL)

The meetings of Libya’s Joint Military Commission (5+5) has continued for the second day in a row in Tunis, co-chaired by UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams in collaboration with France.

Representatives from the UK, Turkey, Italy, the African Union, and figures from the Security Working Group (SWG) for Libya participated in the meetings.

Williams “stressed the importance of ensuring that stability is maintained, and that calm is preserved on the ground” and she “congratulate the JMC 5+5 on the work it has done thus far.”

“We were joined by the entirety of the JMC 5+5, as well as other co-chairs, the UK, Turkey, Italy, and the AU, for a valuable discussion on ceasefire monitoring, disarmament and demobilization, and the way forward on the JMC 5+5’s work,” Williams tweeted.

“Also, in Tunis yesterday, I was pleased to later join the Libyan and international ceasefire monitors in their first in-person meeting, during which they demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment to operationalizing the next steps of the ceasefire agreement.”

Williams said she discussed the Libyan situation in a meeting in Tunis with senior officials of the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Egypt, and Turkey.

“I am grateful to all of them for their support for the holding of elections as soon as possible, on the basis of a solid, consensual constitutional framework, for the sake of fulfilling the aspirations of the Libyan people to vote for their representatives,” Williams explained.



Israel Says it Carried Out Warning Strike on 'Extremists' in Syria Threatening Druze

Syrian security forces secure the area following armed clashes in Jaramana town, near Damascus, Syria, 29 April 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED AL RIFAI
Syrian security forces secure the area following armed clashes in Jaramana town, near Damascus, Syria, 29 April 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED AL RIFAI
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Israel Says it Carried Out Warning Strike on 'Extremists' in Syria Threatening Druze

Syrian security forces secure the area following armed clashes in Jaramana town, near Damascus, Syria, 29 April 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED AL RIFAI
Syrian security forces secure the area following armed clashes in Jaramana town, near Damascus, Syria, 29 April 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED AL RIFAI

The Israeli military carried out a warning strike against "extremists" preparing to attack members of the Druze minority in the Syrian town of Sahnaya, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday in a joint statement with Defense Minister Israel Katz.

"The IDF (military) carried out a warning action and struck the organization of an extremist group preparing to attack the Druze population in the town of Sahnaya, in the Damascus region of Syria," said the statement.

The Israeli announcement came after an eruption of deadly sectarian violence in predominantly Druze areas near Damascus.

The Israeli statement also said a message "was passed on to the Syrian regime - Israel expects it to act in order to prevent harm to the Druze."

A spokesman for Syria's interior ministry, speaking to Reuters from Sahnaya said he had no indication that an attack had taken place.