The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said it was concerned about the armed clashes in Benghazi, which resulted in unverified reports of civilian casualties and the continued disruption of communications.
In posts on X platform, UNSMIL reminded all parties in Libya of their obligations to protect civilians, calling on "Eastern authorities to urgently restore telecommunications in Benghazi, as they have been cut since the fighting began on 7 Oct."
"It is a human right to seek and share information, and access to communication is a vital lifeline for civilians trapped by conflict." UNSMIL added.
Benghazi saw armed clashes last Friday following the return of the Minister of Defense of the former Government of National Accord, Al-Mahdi Al-Barghathi, to the city.
The city saw also a cut-off of telecommunications and there were conflicting reports about the fate of Al-Barghathi, as sources spoke of his arrest by members of Tariq bin Ziyad Brigade and the 115th Battalion, after his house was besieged by their forces, while authorities did not issue any statement in this regard.
