Tarhuna

Libya's foreign minister on June 14 urged the U.N. Security Council to refer mass graves discovered in the city of Tarhuna to the International Criminal Court.

According to a written statement published by the Foreign Ministry on its Facebook account, Mohamed Siala sent a letter to the U.N. Security Council.

The U.N. is urging an investigation after the discovery of multiple mass graves in the city of Tarhuna, Libya, recently liberated from warlord Khalifa Haftar.

Demining experts from the Turkish Armed Forces on June 11 started clearing civilian areas in Libya.

The move comes upon the request of the Libyan government to ensure the safe return of civilians to their homes located in areas liberated from warlord Khalifa Haftar's militia.

The Libyan army announced June 6 it launched five airstrikes on Sirte, soon after it indicated the liberation of the city is its new goal after Tarhuna. 

The government's Burkan Al-Ghadab (Volcano of Rage) Operation said the strikes targeted armored vehicles provided by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and militias loyal to renegade Gen. Khalifa Haftar.

Forces loyal to Libya's internationally recognized government captured the last major stronghold of eastern commander Khalifa Haftar near Tripoli on June 5, capping the sudden collapse of his 14-month offensive on the capital.

The Libyan military targeted two vehicles belonging to militias loyal to renegade commander Khalifa Haftar in an airstrike.  

Three Turkish nationals who were kidnapped in Libya in June were freed on Aug. 11 and received by the Turkish consulate general in Misrata on Aug. 12.