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Libya’s Haftar Vows to Fight Turkey

FILE PHOTO: Troops loyal to Libya's GNA prepare themselves before heading to Sirte, in Tripoli, Libya, July 6, 2020. REUTERS/Ayman Sahely/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Troops loyal to Libya's GNA prepare themselves before heading to Sirte, in Tripoli, Libya, July 6, 2020. REUTERS/Ayman Sahely/File Photo
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Libya’s Haftar Vows to Fight Turkey

FILE PHOTO: Troops loyal to Libya's GNA prepare themselves before heading to Sirte, in Tripoli, Libya, July 6, 2020. REUTERS/Ayman Sahely/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Troops loyal to Libya's GNA prepare themselves before heading to Sirte, in Tripoli, Libya, July 6, 2020. REUTERS/Ayman Sahely/File Photo

Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar said that the fight against Turkish aggression will not stop as a battle loomed on the horizon in Sirte amid ongoing reinforcements by the Government of National Accord, led by Fayez al-Sarraj.

In a speech at the Military College in the city of Tocra, Haftar said that international quests for a political and fair settlement shouldn’t be exploited for bringing invaders and mercenaries in addition to reinforcing the enemy’s capabilities.

Haftar further hailed friendly and brotherly states, mainly the UAE and Egypt, that support the Libyans and the armed forces against Turkish greed.

His speech came as pro-Sarraj local media reported new military reinforcements were sent to the forces of the Turkey-backed GNA in locations near Sirte.

Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa James Cleverly said “the UK is deeply concerned at the ongoing conflict, fueled by reckless international interventions, and the unacceptable humanitarian and human rights cost.”

“It is shocking that the World Health Organization ranked Libya first in the world, ahead of Afghanistan and Syria, in numbers of attacks on health facilities and staff from January to May 2020,” he said.

US Permanent Representative Kelly Kraft also stressed that there is no place for foreign mercenaries or proxy agents, especially forces fighting on behalf of Russia.

Kraft expressed concern about what is going on in the cities of Sirte and Jafra close to the Libyan Oil Crescent, and stressed having reports that weapons and mines are transferred to Libyan areas for control, in clear violation of Libyan sovereignty.

“It is more urgent than ever that foreign interferences in the Libyan conflict cease,” France's UN ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said.

“The risks of regional escalation and a "Syrianization" of Libya are real. Despite the relative calm and the stabilization of the front line on the Sirte-Joufra axis, the continued military reinforcement of both camps is worrying,” he added.

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UN Food Agency Says Its Food Stocks in Gaza Have Run out under Israel’s Blockade

A girl puts a pot to her head as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. (Reuters)
A girl puts a pot to her head as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. (Reuters)
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UN Food Agency Says Its Food Stocks in Gaza Have Run out under Israel’s Blockade

A girl puts a pot to her head as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. (Reuters)
A girl puts a pot to her head as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. (Reuters)

The World Food Program says its food stocks in the Gaza Strip have run out under Israel’s nearly 8-week-old blockade, ending a main source of sustenance for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the territory.

The WFP said in a statement that it delivered the last of its stocks to charity kitchens that it supports around Gaza. It said those kitchens are expected to run out of food in the coming days.

Some 80% of Gaza’s population of more than 2 million relies primarily on charity kitchens for food, because other sources have shut down under Israel’s blockade, according to the UN. The WFP has been supporting 47 kitchens that distribute 644,000 hot meals a day, WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa told the Associated Press.

It was not immediately clear how many kitchens would still be operating in Gaza if those shut down. But Etefa said the WFP-backed kitchens are the major ones in Gaza.

Israel cut off entry of all food, fuel, medicine and other supplies to Gaza on March 2 and then resumed its bombardment and ground offensives two weeks later, shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. It says the moves aim to pressure Hamas to release hostages it still holds. Rights groups have called the blockade a “starvation tactic” and a potential war crime.

Israel has said Gaza has enough supplies after a surge of aid entered during the ceasefire and accuses Hamas of diverting aid for its purposes. Humanitarian workers deny there is significant diversion, saying the UN strictly monitors distribution. They say the aid flow during the ceasefire was barely enough to cover the immense needs from throughout the war when only a trickle of supplies got in.

With no new goods entering Gaza, many foods have disappeared from markets, including meat, eggs, fruits, dairy products and many vegetables. Prices for what remains have risen dramatically, becoming unaffordable for much of the population. Most families rely heavily on canned goods.

Malnutrition is already surging. The UN said it identified 3,700 children suffering from acute malnutrition in March, up 80% from the month before. At the same time, because of diminishing supplies, aid groups were only able to provide nutritional supplements to some 22,000 children in March, down 70% from February. The supplements are a crucial tool for averting malnutrition.

Almost all bakeries shut down weeks ago and the WFP stopped distribution of food basics to families for lack of supplies. With stocks of most ingredients depleted, charity kitchens generally can only serve meals of pasta or rice with little added.

World Central Kitchen -- a US charity that is one of the biggest in Gaza that doesn’t rely on the WFP -- said Thursday that its kitchens had run out of proteins. Instead, they make stews from canned vegetables. Because fuel is scarce, it dismantles wooden shipping pallets to burn in its stoves, it said. It also runs the only bakery still functioning in Gaza, producing 87,000 loaves of pita a day.

The WFP said 116,000 tons of food is ready to be brought into Gaza if Israel opens the borders, enough to feed 1 million people for four months.

Israel has leveled much of Gaza with its air and ground campaign, vowing to destroy Hamas after its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. It has killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, whose count does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

In the Oct. 7 attack, gunmen killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251. They still hold 59 hostages after most were released in ceasefire deals.