Libya Declares 'Force Majeure' in Largest Oilfield

Haftar, Saleh and Hammad are seen at the inauguration ceremony. (Government of Stability)
Haftar, Saleh and Hammad are seen at the inauguration ceremony. (Government of Stability)
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Libya Declares 'Force Majeure' in Largest Oilfield

Haftar, Saleh and Hammad are seen at the inauguration ceremony. (Government of Stability)
Haftar, Saleh and Hammad are seen at the inauguration ceremony. (Government of Stability)

Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) on Sunday declared a force majeure with immediate effect at its Sharara oilfield, which can produce up to 300,000 barrels per day, due to protests in the area.

Negotiations are ongoing to resume production as soon as possible, NOC said in a statement.

The closure of the oilfield - one of Libya's largest - has suspended crude oil supplies from the field to the Zawiya terminal, it added.

A force majeure event relieves the parties from performing their obligations due to extraordinary events or circumstances beyond their control.

The field is run by state oil firm NOC with Spain's Repsol, France's Total, Austria's OMV, and Norway's Equinor.

The oil sector in Libya suffered in 2022 from closures that lasted for nearly three months, leading to over 6 billion dinars ($3.59 billion) in losses.

Separately, east-based parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh extended invitations to both Arab and foreign companies to take part in Libya’s ongoing development initiatives.

In a speech during the inauguration of several bridges in Benghazi, he said the reconstruction of the city will benefit all Libyans.

The bridges were reconstructed by the east-based Government of Stability, headed by Osama Hammad.

The city, having weathered intense battles in recent years, stands as a testament to the resilience of the armed forces in combating various forms of terrorism, Saleh added.

In underlining the milestones unveiled in Benghazi, with similar initiatives slated for Derna and flood-affected regions, Saleh emphasized the transformative nature of the ongoing development.

He asserted that these accomplishments not only improve and simplify daily living but also send a resounding message to the global community, signifying the earnest commencement of Libya's development.

Saleh lauded Egyptian companies for carrying out their responsibilities in line with international standards, expressing gratitude to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the Egyptian people for their unwavering support to the Libyan people.

Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar was also attended the ceremony. He underscored the ongoing meticulous efforts dedicated to providing top services to citizens and advancing infrastructure development.

Haftar emphasized an unwavering commitment to precision in work and the expeditious completion of projects.



UN Agency Says Israel Shuts 4 Schools in East Jerusalem

A boy stands outside the gate of the Kalandia vocational training center (KTC), run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which was raided by Israeli forces earlier at the Qalandiya camp for Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank on February 18, 2025. (AFP)
A boy stands outside the gate of the Kalandia vocational training center (KTC), run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which was raided by Israeli forces earlier at the Qalandiya camp for Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank on February 18, 2025. (AFP)
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UN Agency Says Israel Shuts 4 Schools in East Jerusalem

A boy stands outside the gate of the Kalandia vocational training center (KTC), run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which was raided by Israeli forces earlier at the Qalandiya camp for Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank on February 18, 2025. (AFP)
A boy stands outside the gate of the Kalandia vocational training center (KTC), run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which was raided by Israeli forces earlier at the Qalandiya camp for Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank on February 18, 2025. (AFP)

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees says Israeli forces raided four of its schools in east Jerusalem, ordering their closure.

Israel has severed all ties with the agency, known as UNRWA, and bars it from operating in its territory. It says the agency allowed itself to be infiltrated by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, allegations denied by UN officials.

UNRWA said police entered a training center by force on Tuesday, firing tear gas and sound grenades and ordering its evacuation. It said 350 students and 30 staff were present during the raid on the Qalandiya Training Center.

It said police and city officials ordered the closure of three other schools in east Jerusalem, two of which proceeded with the school day.

Israeli police spokesman Dean Elsdunne said police did not enter the UN buildings and that Jerusalem municipal authorities carried out the closures. He said police were deployed to protect the city workers, using “riot dispersal” means in one case where a crowd threw stones at them outside a UN facility.

Roland Friedrich, UNRWA director for the occupied West Bank, including east Jerusalem, said the raids were an “unacceptable violation of United Nations privileges and immunities,” and a “denial of the right to education for children and trainees.”