Security Patrols Crack Down on Smugglers in South Libya Desert

A patrol is seen in the Libyan desert. (Counter-Terrorism Force)
A patrol is seen in the Libyan desert. (Counter-Terrorism Force)
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Security Patrols Crack Down on Smugglers in South Libya Desert

A patrol is seen in the Libyan desert. (Counter-Terrorism Force)
A patrol is seen in the Libyan desert. (Counter-Terrorism Force)

A security force in western Libya pledged to crack down on gangs smuggling fuel and weapons and trafficking illegal migrants.

It said it will deploy more patrols to track them in the southwestern desert and combat their activities “that are undermining national security”.

Libya suffers from the widespread smuggling of fuels, weapons, and illegal migrants by local gangs through its vast borders with neighboring countries.

The Counter-Terrorism Force said on Sunday that its backup units continue to carry out their patrols at the orders of Defense Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah to confront the outlaws and bring them to justice.

The 444th Brigade of the interim Government of National Unity (GNU) recently confiscated a fuel truck loaded with 40,000 liters that were “prepared to be smuggled abroad”.

The Brigade further raided 26 locations in Qurayyat in coordination with various security bodies. After clashing with the outlaws, it arrested suspects wanted on drug and weapons trade, illegal migration and fuel smuggling charges.

The security force added that its patrols will continue based on a security plan aimed at cracking down on the illegal operations.

The Public Prosecution had remanded state employees in the Highway Service Company in custody for abetting fuel smugglers.



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.