Libya Split Deepens as Sirte Parliament Passes Budget

People sit on a lawn at the Souk al-Thalath (Tuesday market) district of Libya's capital Trpioli on June 11, 2022, after clashes between rival militias had occurred there the previous night. (AFP)
People sit on a lawn at the Souk al-Thalath (Tuesday market) district of Libya's capital Trpioli on June 11, 2022, after clashes between rival militias had occurred there the previous night. (AFP)
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Libya Split Deepens as Sirte Parliament Passes Budget

People sit on a lawn at the Souk al-Thalath (Tuesday market) district of Libya's capital Trpioli on June 11, 2022, after clashes between rival militias had occurred there the previous night. (AFP)
People sit on a lawn at the Souk al-Thalath (Tuesday market) district of Libya's capital Trpioli on June 11, 2022, after clashes between rival militias had occurred there the previous night. (AFP)

Libya's east-based parliament approved a budget on Wednesday for the government it appointed in March despite the incumbent administration refusing to step down, a move that may accelerate a return to parallel rule.

The parliament in the coastal city of Sirte passed the 89.7 billion Libyan dinar ($18.6 billion) budget unanimously, its spokesperson said, to finance the government of Fathi Bashagha, who has been unable to enter Tripoli to take control there.

The dispute over control of government and state revenue, and over a political solution to resolve 11 years of violent chaos, threatens to launch Libya back into administrative division and war.

In Tripoli, Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, who was installed last year through a UN-backed process to head an interim unity government, has rejected the parliament's appointment of Bashagha and says he will step down only after an election.



Israel Carries Out Intense Airstrikes in Southern Lebanon, 1 Dead

Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes near Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon on June 27, 2025. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP)
Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes near Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon on June 27, 2025. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP)
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Israel Carries Out Intense Airstrikes in Southern Lebanon, 1 Dead

Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes near Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon on June 27, 2025. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP)
Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes near Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon on June 27, 2025. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP)

Israel’s air force carried out intense airstrikes on mountains overlooking a southern Lebanon city on Friday in an attack that the Israeli military said targeted Hezbollah underground assets.

The airstrikes came in two waves on the mountains overlooking Nabatiyeh and bunker buster bombs were used, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported. There was no immediate information about casualties.

Since the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war ended with a US-brokered ceasefire in November, Israel has carried out almost daily airstrikes on southern Lebanon. Friday’s strikes were more intense than usual.

The Israeli military said in a statement that its fighter jets struck a site used by Hezbollah to manage its fire and defense array in the area and is part of a significant underground project that was completely taken out of use.

The Israeli army said it identified rehabilitation attempts by Hezbollah beforehand and struck infrastructure sites in the area.

There was no comment from Hezbollah.

An Israeli drone also targeted on Friday an apartment in a two-story building in Nabatiyeh.

Lebanon's health ministry said a woman was killed and 11 other people were wounded in the strike.

"The Israeli enemy strike on an apartment in Nabatiyeh led to a preliminary toll of one woman killed and 11 people wounded," the ministry said in a statement carried by the official National News Agency.