Hundreds of deaths and injuries have occurred in the conflict between the two major factions in the Libyan capital, with armed forces and factions hearing the sound of heavy gunfire early in the morning
On the evening of the 15th, the Libyan special deterrence forces released the commander of the 444th Brigade, and the conflict between the two armed factions in the capital Tripoli was "suspended". However, it has resulted in 27 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
The conflict broke out on the evening of the 14th, affecting multiple urban areas in Tripoli. The cause was that the commander of the 444th Brigade, Mahmoud Hamza, was detained by special deterrence forces during his trip to Mitiga International Airport.
On the day of the 15th, some urban areas were almost constantly emitting thick smoke, and the sound of artillery and explosions shook the streets.
The Libyan National Unity Government has declared a state of emergency in the conflict stricken urban areas.
A resident in southern Tripoli told Reuters that he heard the sound of gunfire while sleeping on the evening of the 14th, and woke up early on the 15th to find that the fighting had become even more intense. "We can hear dense gunshots early in the morning. My family lives about 7 kilometers away and we can also hear gunshots."
The fighting is still taking place in multiple suburbs of Tripoli and the surrounding area of Mitiga International Airport. The "Full Coverage" security group, which provides safety guidance to aviation operators, said that after the conflict broke out on the evening of the 14th, multiple planes flew out of the airport and domestic flights in Libya were diverted to Misrata, the third largest city 180 kilometers east of Tripoli.
The Emergency Medical Assistance and Support Center of the Ministry of Health of the Libyan National Unity Government issued a statement on social media platform Facebook on the 15th, confirming that the conflict resulted in 27 deaths and 106 injuries, but it was not clear whether the above casualties included combatants and civilians. The statement also stated that 134 households were evacuated.
The Special Deterrence Force and the 444th Brigade are both armed forces under the banner of the National Unity Government.
The special deterrence force is under the Presidential Council and serves as a police officer in Tripoli. Reuters reported that special deterrence forces control Mitiga International Airport and nearby coastal areas, including a major road leading to the eastern region.
The 444th Brigade is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Defense and controls most of the urban areas of Tripoli as well as some areas south of the city. Hamza was once a special deterrence officer who played a crucial mediating role in conflicts between other armed factions in the past.
According to Reuters, after a conflict broke out between the Special Deterrence Force and the 444th Brigade, another major armed faction in Tripoli, the Stabilizing Forces, strengthened their security precautions in the urban areas they controlled and did not intervene in the conflict.
Some tribal elders in Tripoli intervened to mediate the conflict. On the evening of the 15th, it was announced by television that the two sides of the conflict had reached an agreement. The special deterrence force handed over Hamza to the stabilization force, and armed personnel from both sides of the conflict returned to their respective camps.
According to the Associated Press, this conflict is the most intense in Tripoli this year. There have been long-standing conflicts between different armed factions, and in recent years, conflicts have erupted multiple times in Tripoli, mostly lasting only a few hours.
In 2011, a civil war broke out in Libya, and the Muammar Gaddafi regime was overthrown by opposition forces under military intervention from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Subsequently, the internal turmoil in Libya intensified, and in 2014, a standoff between the two major forces in the east and west emerged. The government of national unity controls most of the western region, including Tripoli, and has been recognized by the United Nations; The National Congress formed an alliance with the National Army, mainly controlling the eastern and central regions, and gained support from countries such as Egypt and Russia. Both sides announced a ceasefire in 2020, but did not reach a consensus on the political process.
