Libya Militias Agree to End Fighting in Tripoli

Joint forces affiliated with Libya's Government of National Unity assemble inside the closed Tripoli International Airport, as they deploy on the outskirts and entrances of the capital Tripoli on July 25, 2022. (AFP)
Joint forces affiliated with Libya's Government of National Unity assemble inside the closed Tripoli International Airport, as they deploy on the outskirts and entrances of the capital Tripoli on July 25, 2022. (AFP)
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Libya Militias Agree to End Fighting in Tripoli

Joint forces affiliated with Libya's Government of National Unity assemble inside the closed Tripoli International Airport, as they deploy on the outskirts and entrances of the capital Tripoli on July 25, 2022. (AFP)
Joint forces affiliated with Libya's Government of National Unity assemble inside the closed Tripoli International Airport, as they deploy on the outskirts and entrances of the capital Tripoli on July 25, 2022. (AFP)

Militias in the Libyan capital Tripoli agreed to end the latest round of fighting to avert another war in the country.

Clashes had erupted in recent weeks between militias loyal to the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity, headed by Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, and others loyal to an east-based administration, headed by former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha.

Osama al-Gweili, former head of military intelligence who is loyal to Bashagha, met on Tuesday with heads of military groups that are loyal to the GNU to ease the tensions.

They agreed to withdraw all hardline groups and postpone talk about Bashagha’s entry to Tripoli and about whether Dbeibah should remain in his post.

The groups agreed to restore calm and remove sand barriers that have been erected on main roads.

Local media reported that the rival forces indeed started to withdraw from the streets.

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price expressed Washington’s concern over the recent violence.

“This is something that worries us very much,” he told a press briefing.

He urged “all groups to refrain from violence,” noting that US Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland had spoken with Dbeibah and Bashagha on Sunday.

Both officials said they were committed to “finding ways to de-escalate the situation and prevent further loss of life.”

"The recent clashes demonstrate the urgent need for Libya’s political leaders to immediately follow the agreed-upon path to holding elections that can lead to the establishment of a legitimate and united government that serves the interests of all Libyans,” he added.



Aoun Condemns Attempts to Drag Lebanon Anew into Violence

FILED - 17 January 2025, Lebanon, Baabda: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a press conference at Baabda Palace. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
FILED - 17 January 2025, Lebanon, Baabda: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a press conference at Baabda Palace. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
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Aoun Condemns Attempts to Drag Lebanon Anew into Violence

FILED - 17 January 2025, Lebanon, Baabda: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a press conference at Baabda Palace. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
FILED - 17 January 2025, Lebanon, Baabda: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a press conference at Baabda Palace. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned on Saturday Israel’s attempts to drag Lebanon once again into the endless “spiral of violence”, following Israeli claims that it had intercepted three missiles launched from south Lebanon.
A statement released by the Lebanese Presidency said that Aoun called for "avoiding any repercussions and ensuring control over any violations that could endanger the nation during these sensitive times."
Aoun has directed the Army Commander, General Rodolphe Haikal, to “take all necessary field measures to ensure the safety of citizens and conduct investigations regarding the incident”, added the statement.
Also in a statement, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, asked the Lebanese military to take all necessary measures in the south, but said the country did not want to return to war.
He reaffirmed that “only the state holds the authority to decide on matters of war and peace."
The Prime Minister also contacted Janine Plasschaert, the UN Secretary-General's Personal Representative in Lebanon, during which he urged the United Nations to "intensify international pressure on Israel to fully withdraw from the occupied Lebanese territories”.
He emphasized that Israel’s “occupation violates UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire arrangements established by the previous government in November, to which Lebanon remains committed".

On Saturday, Israeli artillery and airstrikes hit south Lebanon after Israel said it had intercepted rockets fired from across the border, a clash endangering a shaky truce that ended a year-long war between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

That conflict marked the deadliest spillover of the Gaza war, rumbling across the border for months before escalating into a blistering Israeli offensive that wiped out Hezbollah's top commanders, many of its fighters and much of its arsenal.