Intense fighting erupted overnight in Libya’s capital and continued into Saturday, with rival factions exchanging heavy gunfire and the sounds of several loud explosions reverberating throughout the city.
Witnesses said the clashes occurred in Tripoli’s city centre after one of the capital’s strongest groups attacked the base of a rival force, resulting in hours of shooting that terrified locals and raised fears of a larger escalation.
The Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) and a rival administration backed by the eastern-based parliament traded accusations during the clashes, raising fears of a wider conflict over Libya’s political standoff among many Libyans.
Any clashes between powerful Tripoli factions risk attracting other factions, and Saturday’s fighting lasted longer than any other incident in the city in months.
The UN mission in Libya expressed concern about the fighting, which it described as “medium and heavy shelling” in civilian-populated areas.
“This is dreadful. Because of the clashes, my family and I couldn’t sleep. The noise was too loud and frightening “said Abdulmenam Salem, a resident of central Tripoli. “We kept ourselves awake in case we needed to leave quickly. It’s a horrible sensation.”
In recent weeks, large armed factions supporting each side of Libya’s political conflict have repeatedly mobilised around Tripoli, with convoys of military vehicles moving around the city and threatening force to achieve their objectives.
According to medical sources, at least two people, a man and a woman, have been killed in the fighting.
Pictures and video posted online of the city centre, which Reuters could not immediately confirm, showed military vehicles speeding through the streets, fighters shooting, and locals attempting to put out fires.
Ali, a 23-year-old student who declined to give his last name, said he and his family fled their apartment during the night after bullets hit their building. “We couldn’t stay and survive any longer,” he added.
TRADE ACCUSATIONS IN RIVALS
The interior and health ministries made no immediate comment on the fighting, which paused in the morning before resuming. Tripoli University announced that classes would be cancelled due to the fighting.
The main Libyan conflict pits the GNU in Tripoli, led by Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, against a rival administration led by Fathi Bashagha, backed by the eastern-based parliament.
According to a GNU statement, the latest clashes in Tripoli were sparked by fighters aligned with Bashagha opening fire on a convoy in the capital while other pro-Bashagha units gathered outside the city. It accused Bashagha of withdrawing from crisis talks.
Bashagha’s administration stated in a statement that it had never rejected talks and that Dbeibah had rejected its own overtures. It made no direct response to the claim that it was linked to the clashes.
Dbeibah and Bashagha have both attempted to court international opinion, promising to keep the peace and accusing each other of using violence to gain power.
In May, Bashagha attempted to enter Tripoli, resulting in an hours-long shootout that forced him to flee. He recently stated that he may try to enter the capital again.
This week, factions supporting Dbeibah paraded around Tripoli in a show of force, declaring that Bashagha would not be allowed to enter.
