Some seven civilians have been killed and dozens more wounded in the eastern Libyan city of Derna yesterday, as General Khalifa Haftar’s forces claimed victory over the city after weeks of fighting “terrorists”.

Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) registered 3.719 casualties – killed, injured or captured – in Libya in 2018 due to clashes in different cities and districts.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has expressed its concern about civilians in Derna and the south of Libya.

The Khalifa Hafter Al Karama (Dignity) Operations Room announced that the military units of the Derna Omar Mukhtar Operations Room and the supporting force “eliminated” what it referred to as the “terrorist” Omar Juma al-Shallali and the “terrorist” Mohammed al-Tashani.

Despite a large number of IDPs having returned home to Derna in the last six months, approximately 1,200 families continue to be displaced in several areas of Libya, including 600 families within the city, a UNHCR overview reported yesterday.

Increasing hostilities in the oil-rich city of Derna are becoming an increasing source of concern said the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya on Friday, following an intensification in fighting which has resulted in “substantial civilian casualties”.

Violent clashes are still ongoing in Al-Sooq in Derna’s downtown days after attacks by Derna Protection Force on Khalifa Haftar’s forces, a source from Haftar’s self-style army has reported.

Municipalities from eastern Libya and members of the Benghazi Association held on Tuesday in Tripoli a press conference to call on the United Nations to take action regarding the crimes committed in Benghazi before the kickoff of Dignity Operation in 2014 and afterwards.

Houses and different properties of Derna residents have been seized by militia fighters under the command of Khalifa Haftar, sources close to Haftar’s self-styled army reported.

The education official in the city of Derna Mansour Omar has issued a circular to schools to suspend classes until December 2.