Special thanks to our friends at Industry Arabic, the leader in Arabic translation services, for these recent translations from the Libyan press:
Committee Formed to Stop Goods Seizure at Port of BenghaziOriginally appeared in: Al-ShoroukTripoli - Jan. 10 2015The Benghazi Municipal Council has agreed with the Benghazi Customs and Port Authority to form an emergency committee to end the seizure of goods building up in the port’s depot, which has been closed amid armed clashes.The council’s media office director, Maaz al-Shabli, in a press statement last night said that municipal head Omar Abdullah al-Bara’si, along with council members, met with the director of the Customs Authority, General Ramadan Jagrim, and the designated director of the port, Anwar al-Feitouri, to discuss the goods that have accumulated in the port. They also looked at ways of getting foodstuffs and medicines out from the Jalyana and Hadhira Ganfouda port.Al-Shabli explained that those present agreed to form an emergency committee at the Port of Benghazi tasked with transporting goods and providing protection to them. This committee is to be in communication with the Benghazi municipality.The city of Benghazi has witnessed violent fighting between Libyan Army forces and the Shura Council of Benghazi revolutionaries, which has led to the death and wounding of dozens.
Libyan Air Force cautions against using Misrata airport and seaportOriginally appeared in: Worldakhbar.comJan. 7 2015A Libyan official announced on Wednesday that the Libyan military has cautioned against the use of the Misrata airport and seaport as they are targeted by the Libyan Air Force.Major Mohammed al-Hijazi, official spokesperson for Operation Dignity led by General Khalifa Haftar, renewed the warning of the army’s chief of staff and the leadership of Operation Dignity to all who use the Misrata airport and seaport, stating that they have become direct targets of the Libyan Air Force. Libyan Air Force planes are closely following movements in the seaport and airport, particularly since the addition of modern, high-maneuvering and long-range Sukhoi Su-22 planes. Any sea or air units that enter into these areas will be targeted by the Libyan Air Force.In press statements made this evening, al-Hijazi said that “the Misrata air and sea ports have become a curse on the Libyan people as they have begun to facilitate terrorism and extremism in all its forms, including attracting weapons and terrorists that are exported to all other Libyan cities. This is especially the case for Benghazi where the Libyan army now controls 95% of the city, except for the Souq al-Hout and al-Leithy al-Qadim districts.” On measures being taken by the National Libyan Army to free the city of Derna from extremist terrorist gangs, al-Hijazi confirmed that Derna is under full siege by army units, especially in Ain Mara and Sidi Khaled. He also confirmed that the army is waiting for orders to begin the battle to liberate Derna and rid it of extremist terrorist groups.In other developments, Turkish Airlines announced that it has ceased all flights to Libyan airports because of the deterioration of the security situation in Libya.The company halted all flights to Misrata on Monday and said on Tuesday that it would not continue flights to Tripoli, Benghazi, and Sabha, which were stations for Turkish planes.Turkish Airlines had previously stopped its flights to Tripoli, Benghazi, and Sabha, and limited its flights to Misrata, the third largest Libyan city located 200 km northwest of Tripoli. A Turkish Airlines spokesperson said: “We have halted all flights to Misrata until further notice for operational reasons,” adding that “Turkish Airlines currently no longer provides any flights to Libya.”An official from the Misrata International airport said, “Turkish Airlines has notified us that it has temporarily stopped its flights to the airport” because of the Libyan Air Force air raids targeting the airport during the past few days, according to media sources.The Libyan Air Force conducted an air raid last week on military targets in the city of Misrata, including the airport and the seaport that were being used by Fajr Libya militias to access weapons supplies, according to Libyan military sources.The Libyan government has accused Turkey of supporting the militias that have taken control of Tripoli, and that primarily come through the coastal city of Misrata.