Kufra, 16 June:
Tebu forces from Chad reportedly entered Libya late this afternoon, Saturday, engaging government forces in the Al-Twalab area, around . . .[restrict]30 kilometres south of Kufra.
A Libya Herald source in the region, who has spoken to one of the commanders of the government’s Libya Shield forces, said that the Chadian Tebu came with the intention of supporting their fellow tribesmen in Libya, who have been fighting government forces since 8 June.
Fighting around Kufra first broke out in February this year, when the Tebu clashed with Kufra’s Arab Zway majority, primarily over smuggling rivalries. Government forces were deployed to the area the same month to broker a ceasefire, but have since been drawn into the conflict against the Tebu.
These latest clashes have reportedly cost the lives of around 40 Tebu, and at least 19 others, including three members of the Libya Shield brigade.
Prior to today’s resumption of hostilities, an uneasy calm had been restored to the area after an eight-person ICRC team arrived in Kufra and helped to negotiate a ceasefire. Over the past two days, the ICRC has evacuated at least 50 wounded Tebu from Kufra to Tripoli, along with 39 members of their families.
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