First Independent Mena Newspaper
Tunisia Wednesday received strong support from Portugal which vowed to help secure the volatile border with Libya and offered to train army and security forces. “Portugal will significantly contribute to improve the operational capacities of Tunisian security and army forces notably in matters of equipment and training; in the ultimate objective of securing borders,” said […]
Libyan National Army Tuesday announced it liberated the last jihadist-held area of Benghazi after two years of fighting. “We have totally liberated the area of Lithi,” said Fadel al-Hassi, of Libya’s Special Forces. Lithi neighborhood had been a stronghold of militant groups including the Islamic State. Loyalists led by the Libyan Army Chief Commander Khalifa […]
An anti-terrorism operation jointly conducted by Moroccan and Spanish intelligence services in the enclave of Sebta and in the town of Nador led Tuesday at dawn to the arrest of four men suspected for recruiting fighters for the Islamic State terrorist group. According to the announcement made in both countries, the four men built up […]
The Libyan internationally recognized parliament based in Tobruk is due to meet Tuesday to approve the Government of National Accord said to tackle Libya’s numerous problems. After days of tumultuous debates, the House of Representatives (HoR) is finally going to hold a “vote of confidence” on the government list proposed by the Prime Minister-designate Faiez […]
The Friday airstrike by the US on a house in Sabratha allegedly used by militants of the Islamic State led to controversial statements from the country’s two political authorities. The government in Tripoli led by Prime Minister Khalifa Ghwell welcomed the airstrikes while the Thinni-led government in Tobruk condemned the raids as a deliberate violation […]
Tunisian President Caid Essebsi has extended the state of emergency for another month to start on February 22, Presidency spokesman Moez Sinaoui announced to media on Sunday. The decision was made after consultations with the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Parliament on national security dominated by the critical situation at the border with […]
Under Secretary of State for political affairs Thomas A. Shannon hailed Morocco for its mature and balanced approach in dealing with the Sahara issue, describing the proposal made by the North African country to grant autonomy status to the disputed territory as “realistic, serious and credible.” “Morocco’s autonomy proposal is realistic, serious and credible,” and […]
Seven States, namely France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UAE, UK, and the US, Thursday issued a joint statement calling on the Libyan internationally recognized House of Representatives (HoR) to back quickly and unanimously the unity government proposed last Sunday. The joint statement issued by the seven governments leaves the HoR at a cross-road of decision which […]
US Air Force F-15E jets early Friday killed more than 30 IS fighters outside the town of Sabratha said to host an IS training camp which trained the Tunisian jihadists who hit Tunisia in March and in June last year. The strikes were reportedly targeting a Tunisian notorious jihadist known as Noureddine Chouchane who allegedly […]
The US military strategists are planning to spend an additional $200 million on operations against the Isis and other extremist groups operating in North Africa. The focus on North Africa is part of a broader $7.5 billion package to fight Islamic State in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, outlined few days ago by Defense Secretary Ash […]