27 dead in Libya as rival militias clash, escalation continues

author: FutureCar Staff    

Clashes between rival militias in Libya's capital have resulted in the deaths of at least 27 people and have left residents trapped in their homes, unable to escape the violence, according to medical authorities. This recent fighting is the most intense to occur in Tripoli this year. In addition to the fatalities, over 100 people have been injured, as reported by Libya's Emergency Medicine and Support Center, a medical body deployed during humanitarian disasters and wars.

The clashes began on Monday night between militiamen from the 444 brigade and the Special Deterrence Force. Local media sources suggest that tensions escalated after Mahmoud Hamza, a senior commander of the 444 brigade, was allegedly detained by the rival group at an airport in Tripoli earlier in the day.

It remains unclear how many of the deceased were militiamen or civilians, as the Red Crescent has not yet provided a comment. Throughout the fighting on Tuesday, the Health Ministry urged the warring factions to allow ambulance and emergency teams into the affected areas, primarily in the southern part of the city, and to send blood to nearby hospitals.

OPSGroup, an organization for the aviation industry, reported on Monday night that numerous aircraft had departed from Tripoli due to the clashes. Inbound flights were being diverted to the nearby city of Misrata.

This escalation follows a period of relative peace in Libya after nearly a decade of civil war. The country is currently divided between two rival administrations locked in a political stalemate. Although there have been occasional incidents of violence in Tripoli over the years, most have been resolved quickly.

The United Nations mission in Libya expressed concern over the ongoing clashes and called for an immediate end to the violence. Both of Libya's rival administrations also condemned the fighting in separate statements. The House of Representatives, based in Benghazi, blamed the Tripoli-based government for the violence.

The U.S. and British embassies in Libya have also expressed their concerns. The United States called for an immediate de-escalation to sustain the recent progress made towards stability and elections in Libya.

Since 2014, Libya has been divided between rival administrations in the east and the west, each supported by different foreign governments and well-armed militias. The nation has been in a state of turmoil since the NATO-backed uprising in 2011 that led to the overthrow and death of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

FutureCar Staff