Turkey is incensed by Saturday’s attack targeting the strategic al-Watiya air base in Libya that damaged Turkish air defence systems, with officials warning it will likely escalate the conflict in the North African country.

Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) announced on Wednesday that it had downed a United Arab Emirates unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the west of the country.

Zuwara Security Directorate said Tuesday it had foiled an illegal immigration attempt by over 200 illegal immigrants from different African countries, who were arrested in a farm west of the city.

Zuwara’s security forces are effectively on their own, relying on old vehicles and seized weapons to perform duties.

At a meeting in Gharyan yesterday more than 700 supporters of the restoration of the Senussi monarchy called for Prince Mohamed El-Senussi, son of the last crown prince, to become king. Some estimates put the number at over 900.

Sadiq Jiash can barely hide his emotion as he sketches out his plans for the first “real” resting place for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of victims of Libya’s people-smuggling industry.

The commander of a brigade from Zultan, between Zuwara and the Tunisian border, was reported killed yesterday in nearby Al-Jmail when he and his colleagues were attacked by a local militia allegedly allied to Sabratha’s defeated Amu Brigade.

Locals in Zuwara are up in arms at the lack of fuel and have been protesting in the town since Friday demanding an end to profiteering and fuel smuggling.

Anger in Libya over an agreement last Sunday between Libyan and Tunisian municipalities on either side of the border that is said to give Tunisian traders a significant financial advantage over Libyans is growing.

The Libyan authorities responsible for the crossing border of Ras Ajdair between Libya and Tunisia said Monday that the crossing checkpoint is open for both countries’ citizens, however, the residents of Ben Guredane in Tunisia are blocking the road and preventing travelers to go through from either side.