The United Nations has known as for pressing de-escalation in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, as rival gunmen exchanged hearth within the metropolis’s southern districts after the killing of a robust militia chief, with authorities imposing an emergency lockdown.
The enchantment early on Tuesday got here as residents reported listening to heavy gunfire and explosions throughout a number of neighbourhoods from about 9pm native time (19:00 GMT) on Monday.
Al Jazeera’s Malik Traina, reporting from Libya’s Misrata, stated safety sources had confirmed the killing of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, broadly often known as “Gheniwa”, who’s the pinnacle of the highly effective Stability Help Authority (SSA) militia.
Gunfire and clashes then consumed a number of components of Tripoli.
Al-Kikli was one of many capital’s most influential militia leaders and had lately been concerned in disputes with rival armed teams, together with factions linked to Misrata. His SSA is beneath the Presidential Council, which got here to energy in 2021 with the Authorities of Nationwide Unity (GNU) of Abdul Hamid Dbeibah by a UN-recognised course of.
Traina stated that a minimum of six folks have been wounded, though it stays unclear whether or not they’re safety drive members or civilians.
In a press release shortly after the clashes started, the UN Help Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) stated it was “alarmed by the unfolding safety scenario in Tripoli, with intense preventing with heavy weaponry in densely populated civilian areas”.
UNSMIL added that it “calls on all events to right away stop preventing and restore calm, and reminds all events of their obligations to guard civilians always”.
UNSMIL is alarmed by the unfolding safety scenario in Tripoli, with intense preventing with heavy weaponry in densely populated civilian areas.
The Mission calls on all events to right away stop preventing and restore calm, and reminds all events of their obligations to… pic.twitter.com/SZ8oKgZ1p8— UNSMIL (@UNSMILibya) Could 12, 2025
UNSMIL voiced help for native mediation efforts, notably these led by elders and group leaders, emphasising the necessity to shield civilians amid mounting tensions.
Faculties shut, residents instructed to remain indoors
The GNU’s Ministry of Inside Affairs urged residents to remain residence and keep away from motion, warning of additional instability, whereas the Ministry of Schooling suspended lessons throughout Tripoli on Tuesday, citing the deteriorating safety scenario.
The GNU’s media platform stated early on Tuesday that the Ministry of Defence had absolutely taken management of the Abu Salim neighbourhood.
“I heard heavy gunfire, and I noticed crimson lights within the sky,” one resident instructed the Reuters information company on situation of anonymity.
Two others instructed Reuters that the gunfire was echoing throughout their neighbourhoods of Abu Salim and Salah Eddin.
Movies and pictures on-line confirmed plumes of black smoke amid the sound of gunfire, in addition to armed males within the streets and convoys getting into town.
Footage verified by Al Jazeera’s Sanad fact-checking company captured the sound of medium-calibre gunfire in a number of neighbourhoods, together with areas the place the SSA militia is thought to function.
A number of districts have seen what native sources describe as “suspicious army manoeuvres”, with convoys arriving from Az-Zawiyah, Zintan and Misrata – seen by many as preparations for a doable showdown within the capital.
Al Jazeera’s Traina stated the renewed clashes have prompted anger and fear.
“Persons are offended that each time these armed teams conflict, civilians are caught within the crossfire,” he stated, including that residents are demanding “accountability”.
“When these teams combat and individuals are killed, nobody is held accountable. Locals need justice, and anticipate the authorities to carry these behind the violence accountable,” he stated.
Libya plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed rebellion that toppled and killed Libyan chief Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The oil-rich nation has been ruled for many of the previous decade by rival governments in japanese and western Libya, every backed by an array of fighter teams and overseas governments.