The United Nations postponed peace talks between Libya’s warring factions which had been scheduled for Monday without announcing a new date. The talks had originally been slated for 9 December but have been repeatedly delayed as fighting has intensified between the beleaguered internationally recognised government and Islamist-backed militias.

A Libyan army spokesperson says armed militants have shot and killed 17 soldiers and one civilian at a checkpoint. Mohammed Hegazi said that the attack occurred early on Friday in the central district of Jufra. He blamed the attacks on “terrorists roaming the desert areas freely”.

The Saudi and French defense ministers discussed in Riyadh Sunday the delivery of military aid to Lebanon. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited his Saudi counterpart Prince Salman bin Abdul-Aziz.