The commander of the 17th Battalion, Border and Vital Targets Guard, Abdul Hafeez Al-Zintani, confirmed that the battalion had closed the gas pipeline linking the Daraj and Sinawen regions in western Libya since Saturday, adding in press statements that the battalion will gradually close the oil pipelines that pass through the region, starting on Monday. He explained that the goal of shutting down oil and gas is “to end family rule and overthrow the government in Tripoli after its involvement in starving the people, plundering public funds, and strengthening armed groups,” in reference to the Government of National Unity headed by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. Al-Zintani indicated that Dbeibah tried to communicate with the battalion through intermediaries for the purpose of reopening the gas pipeline. He said that they refused to communicate and did not want to talk with the intermediaries, adding that their goal was to overthrow the government. Meanwhile, a number of members of the Petroleum Facilities Guard threatened to stop the flow of gas from the Mellitah oil complex and close all oil facilities in the country if the government did not implement the decisions to increase their salaries and grant them their agreed-upon rights.

At least 10 people were shot dead in Libya’s capital, reports said as the UN mission in the war-scarred country on Monday called for a “prompt and thorough” investigation. The UN Support Mission in Libya said on social media platform X that it “condemns the violent incident in Abu Salim area, Tripoli on 17 February during which at least 10 people were reported killed,” and that it continued to monitor the situation. Abu Salim is under the control of strongman Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, head of the Stability Support Authority (SSA) created in January 2021. The SSA said on Sunday on Facebook that two of its members were among those killed. Libya has been gripped by political chaos and insecurity since the fall of Kadhafi in 2011 in a revolution backed by NATO.

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - The United Nations mission in Libya has urged authorities to investigate the shooting deaths of 10 people in a Tripoli neighbourhood, with city security chiefs saying the victims included two members of a powerful armed faction. Libya has had little peace since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising and it split in 2014, with rival factions taking over different parts of the country. Although major warfare has paused since a 2020 ceasefire, different groups still wield control over various government and security departments. The Tripoli security directorate said the 10 people had been killed by "an unidentified armed group" late on Saturday night and included two members of the Stabilisation Support Apparatus, one of the biggest and most prominent forces in Tripoli. The Tripoli security directorate said the public prosecution had already launched an investigation and all bodies had been handed over for forensic examination.

Libyan media widely reported today that the Tripoli Court of Appeal ruled to invalidate the October 2022 memorandum of understanding between Libya (signed by the current Tripoli based government) and Turkey on cooperation in the hydrocarbon energy sector. Libyan media reports that the court did not express any opinion on its grounds for invalidation.

The Minister of Transport of the Tripoli based Libyan government, Mohamed Al-Shahoubi, expressed his pleasure and gratitude for the meetings that took place between the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority and the Turkish Aviation Authority. He added that the two sides agreed to prepare a memorandum of understanding and to accelerate the implementation of its provisions as soon as possible in preparation for the return of Turkish Airlines to operate flights to Libyan airports. The sentiments were expressed during his meeting today at the Ministry’s headquarters in Tripoli with Turkish ambassador Kanaan Yilmaz, and his accompanying delegation. The meeting was in the presence of the Undersecretary for Air Transport Affairs, Mr. Khaled Swesi, the head of the Department of Transport. Civil Aviation – in charge, Abdul Rahman bin Youssef, and the Director of the Technical Cooperation Office at the Ministry’s office, Adel Bakhit Ibrahim.

UNSMIL’s Stability Support Mission in Libya strongly condemned the violent incident occurred this weekend in Abu Salim, in Tripoli, leaving a dozen casualties including two of UNSMIL members. In a message posted on Twitter, UNSMIL assured that it continues monitoring the situation while press reports considered the event as a targeted killing operation. Victims were staying at a vacation home in Abu Salim, the El Observador de Libya web portal specified. “This incident praises the concerns repeatedly raised by the UNSG Special Representative Abdoulaye Bathily about the serious risks posed by the rivalries among security actors that continue threatening the fragile security in Tripoli,” UNSMIL warned. The Mission urged Libyan authorities to guarantee an independent, prompt and thorough investigation into the incident and to prevent any action that could lead to escalation and further violence.

The ship targeted in the Houthi attack on Sunday reported sustaining damage after “an explosion in close proximity to the vessel,” the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported. Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic.com analyzed by The Associated Press identified the vessel targeted as the Rubymar. Late Monday, the UKMTO and Ambrey reported a suspected Houthi drone attack targeting a ship off Djibouti in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. In November, the Pentagon acknowledged the loss of an MQ-9, shot down by the rebels over the Red Sea. Those strikes targeted mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, an explosive-carrying drone boat and an “unmanned underwater vessel,” Central Command said.

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Libyan-American Alliance launches new legal initiative against Haftar http://lyo.ly/5igbTurkish-Italian consultations on the situation in Libya http://lyo.ly/5ig9Libya’s parallel government considers Bathily persona non grata http://lyo.ly/5ig7MMRA begins work on ground tank in Ghadames to supply the city with water http://lyo.ly/5ig6Libya congratulates Mauritania on taking over rotating chair of AU http://lyo.ly/5ig5Italian court criminalizes handing over immigrants to Libyan authorities http://lyo.ly/5ig4Bathily says Libyans want to form unified government that represents them all http://lyo.ly/5ig3HCS first deputy reviews political path with Italian ambassador http://lyo.ly/5ig1Menfi, Brazilian president meet in Addis Ababa, discuss future cooperation http://lyo.ly/5ig0Libyan Internal Security Apparatus accuses Amnesty International of publishing false information http://lyo.ly/5ifzHNEC, UNSMIL initiate workshop on media's role in electoral engagement http://lyo.ly/5ifsCourt convicts 58 in passport forgery ring http://lyo.ly/5ig8Governor discusses with US embassy officials CBL unification efforts http://lyo.ly/5iftEgypt-Turkey partnership to boost Libya's reconstruction, says economy minister http://lyo.ly/5ifrLibya to host North African under-23 wheelchair basketball qualifier http://lyo.ly/5ifmAfDB forecasts robust economic growth for Libya in 2024 http://lyo.ly/5ifoMurder of several men takes place in Abu Salim in Tripoli http://lyo.ly/5ig2Bathily: Current status quo poses significant threat to the unity of Libya http://lyo.ly/5ifhParallel government calls for replacing UN envoy to Libya Bathily http://lyo.ly/5ifgTurkish Ambassador in Cairo: Erdogan and Sisi agreed on preserving unity of Libya http://lyo.ly/5iffMenfi participates in African summit on establishing financial institutions, including African Investment Bank http://lyo.ly/5ifeA human rights organization inspects environmental, health and humanitarian situation in Bir al-Ghanam http://lyo.ly/5ifdUS voices commitment to support Libyan efforts to choose unified government http://lyo.ly/5ifcUN official urges collective engagement in Derna's reconstruction post-Storm Daniel http://lyo.ly/5if7Netherlands, UNICEF sign $4 million agreement to support vulnerable children in Libya http://lyo.ly/5if6Libyan Navy participates in US maritime security workshop http://lyo.ly/5if0Floodwaters prompt warnings and evacuations in Derna and Susa http://lyo.ly/5iezMenfi discusses with military officials border demarcation concluded agreements http://lyo.ly/5iewAmerican company inspects construction site of oil refinery in southern Libya http://lyo.ly/5ieyBen Qaddara reviews developments in geophysical surveying in Cyrenaica http://lyo.ly/5iexShakshak, Al-Kabir discuss reviewing financial statement of CBL http://lyo.ly/5ievEgyptian companies say ready to establish new factories in Libya http://lyo.ly/5ifi

CAIRO – 19 February 2024: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al Sisi witnessed on Monday the inauguration of the seventh edition of Egypt Energy Show (EGYPES) 2024 at Al Manara International Conference Center in New Cairo. “Did you know the amount of effort that Egypt has put into implementing this?” He asked“Over the past years, we have spent a lot of money just to achieve this goal. Egypt stands out as a regional energy hub under the wise leadership of President Sisi, aligning with Egypt's Vision 2030. This entails expanding infrastructure, developing major low-carbon projects, and fostering bilateral and trilateral partnerships that serve as beacons on the path to energy transition. He stated, “Advancing energy transition, securing supply, and decarbonizing our industry are the essence of this conference.

Subsequent contact with several others confirmed the dire situation of the Bangladeshi health workers in the North African country. A Libyan delegation visited Bangladesh in January last year for the intake of workers under their health ministry. “A team from the Libyan health ministry came to Bangladesh and chose the health workers. They said many of the health workers got residence cards and their jobs became permanent after the probation period. The minister asked the hospitals in a letter on Feb 12 to solve the problems regarding Bangladeshi doctors and health workers’ due salaries and housing.

Bathily added that members of the two councils are slow in finding a solution and say that Gaddafi remained in power for more than 42 years, while today they have been in power for 10 years. He pointed out that the only solution that can bring security and prosperity to Libya, and which the Libyans aspire to, is the formation of a new, unified government that represents all the regions, not a government that sides with a specific camp, region, or family, west or east, but rather a government for all Libyans. He also warned against forming a government similar to the previous government of Fathi Bashagha, saying that the formation of the House of Representatives alone for this government increased the intensity of the conflict and division, and that it did not serve the interests of Libyans. "It is no longer acceptable today for any party to stipulate its own continuation of positions of power because that would fuel the conflict or ignite war, and it is unfortunate to say that this possibility is no longer excluded in Libya today,” Bathily said, stressing the necessity of forming a new government. Regarding the situation in Derna, which was subjected to the flood disaster, Bathily said that this tragedy left thousands of victims and residents and they are still waiting for the reconstruction of their city on transparent and fair foundations, but the situation is not like that today and that has not been achieved yet.

— AFP/FileROME: Italy’s top appeals court has established that sending sea migrants back to Libya is unlawful, a ruling hailed by charities and human rights groups. The Court of Cassation upheld the conviction of the captain of an Italian towboat, Asso 28, who in 2018 rescued 101 migrants from a rubber dinghy and returned them to Libya. The rescue took place in international waters about 105 km off Libya, the court said. Pregnant women and children were among the migrants, it added. It was filed on Feb 1, but was publicised by Italian media over the weekend.

(MENAFN- AzerNews)Ulviyya Shahin Read moreAbdoulaye Bathily, special representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), on Saturday called on Libyan leaders to come together to build a strong, united, and resilient Libya, Azernews reports, citing foreign media. "It is imperative that Libyan leaders acknowledge their responsibility and be held accountable for their decisions and actions, as they directly impact the lives of the Libyan people. They must come together, settle all politically contentious issues, and agree on a way forward to build a strong, united, and resilient Libya," Bathily said in a statement on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the Feb. 17 revolution. Bathily reiterated UNSMIL's commitment to supporting the Libyan people in their pursuit of peace, justice, legitimate institutions, and inclusive governance. Libya failed to hold general elections in December 2021 as previously scheduled due to disagreements among the Libyan parties over election laws.

ROME: Italy’s top appeals court has established that sending sea migrants back to Libya is unlawful, a ruling hailed by charities and human rights groups. The Court of Cassation upheld the conviction of the captain of an Italian towboat, Asso 28, who in 2018 rescued 101 migrants from a rubber dinghy and returned them to Libya. The rescue took place in international waters about 105km off Libya, the court said. The Italian office of Amnesty International also hailed the verdict, and criticised the government for cooperating with Libyan authorities on migration. Under international humanitarian law, migrants cannot be forcibly returned to countries where they risk serious ill-treatment, and widespread migrant abuse has been extensively documented in Libya.