News Roundup - Sat, Jul 23, 2016

Last Updated: 9:10

Al-Bunyan al-Marsoos military operations chamber reported that heavy clashes between its forces and IS militants have broken out in Sirte city center, adding that their forces' artillery targeted Saturday IS hideouts in downtown Sirte as well. Earlier on Saturday as well, intermittent clashes took place around Ouagadougou Conference Halls and other frontlines in an attempt by ISIS radicals to regain control of the locations they lost over the last days, however; they did not make it, reported the operations room.

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Commander of Marada Operation Room of Khalifa Haftar's militias, Yousif Al-Zuwawi, said they won't allow oil to be pumped once again to the ports, pointing out that oil fields and terminals are all under their control, so they will fight all those who think of reopening the oil ports and fields. Ibrahim Jodran, the commander of the Petroleum Facilities Guard, vowed after his meeting with Martin Kobler to pump oil once again via the ports of which his forces are in control before Jul 25.   

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Defend Benghazi Brigades said the statement of the Presidential Council of the UN-proposed government is “pathetic and shameful” to the sovereignty of the Libyan country, pointing out that it implies a tone of “humiliation and degradation”. 

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A relief convoy containing foods baskets arrived in Sirte Suburbs to provide aids for more than 400 families in the areas freed from ISIS. The convoy was sent in coordination between the Sirte Municipality and Misrata Military Council. The convoy took off from the city of Misrata.

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The Libyan Fatwa House and League of Libyan Scholars called on Thursday for mobilization to confront the French intervention in the country, a day after 13 Defend Benghazi Brigades fighters were killed in airstrikes conducted by French warplanes in Jilidiya district, 60 km east of Ajdabiya.

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Bodies of 14 civilians have been found in a landfill in Benghazi's Lathi neighbourhood, which is under full control of Dignity Operation militia groups. The bodies showed signs of torture as well as gunshots to the head, local media reported.

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Angry protests broke out in several Libyan cities on Friday to condemn the French intervention in the country. The protests were held in Tripoli, Misrata, Zawiya, Gharyan, Sabratha and Sabha.