New York, June 11: The United Nations security council (UNSC) has unanimously on Monday extended an embargo on the flow of armed weapons to Libya for additional one year, even as the conflict between UN-backed government and Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar’s forces depicts no signs of tension escalation in war-torn North American country.
The arms embargo was implemented by a European Union force which is slated to remain in effect until June 2020, according to ANI news reports.
Anadolu News Agency has reported the UNSC had in 2016 authorized the EU’s Operation Sophira group, which aimed at controlling human trafficking, to inspect the Mediterranean Sea which was suspected of carrying out the movement of weapons that could initially violate the arms ban.
UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres was told to report the UNSC within 11 months over the arms embargo’s implement, as per a resolution adopted earlier.
So far, rebel Haftar’s forces have remained unsuccessful taking control over Tripoli, the Libyan capital, from the UN-backed GNA (Government of National Accord), ever since the fighting began in the region in April.
According to the World Health Organization’s recent report, over 390 people have yet lost their lives and more than 1,900 others have been reported wounded since the fight began on April 12.
Haftar is the leader of a military assault on Tripoli, the Libyan capital, in opposition to the internationally recognized Libyan government.
Since the death of dictator Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has been divided into two sectors. The Libyan National Army (LNA) backed parliament controls the east of Libya, while the United Nations-backed interim GNA (Government of National Accord) holds control over the western region on Libya from Tripoli.
While Washington supports the UN-backed interim GNA led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, the US military officers and diplomats maintain contacts with Russia-backed Haftar LNA.
Also read: Over 90,000 Libyans displaced due to military combat in Tripoli: UN