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 strong militia chief, with authorities imposing an emergency lockdown.
The attraction 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, mentioned safety sources had confirmed the killing of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, broadly referred to as “Gheniwa”, who’s the pinnacle of the highly effective Stability Assist 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 not too long ago been concerned in disputes with rival armed teams, together with factions linked to Misrata. His SSA is below the Presidential Council, which got here to energy in 2021 with the Authorities of Nationwide Unity (GNU) of Abdul Hamid Dbeibah by way of a UN-recognised course of.
Traina mentioned that at the very least six individuals have been wounded, though it stays unclear whether or not they’re safety power members or civilians.
In an announcement shortly after the clashes started, the UN Assist Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) mentioned it was “alarmed by the unfolding safety state of affairs in Tripoli, with intense combating with heavy weaponry in densely populated civilian areas”.
UNSMIL added that it “calls on all events to right away stop combating and restore calm, and reminds all events of their obligations to guard civilians always”.
UNSMIL is alarmed by the unfolding safety state of affairs in Tripoli, with intense combating with heavy weaponry in densely populated civilian areas.
The Mission calls on all events to right away stop combating and restore calm, and reminds all events of their obligations to… pic.twitter.com/SZ8oKgZ1p8— UNSMIL (@UNSMILibya) Might 12, 2025
UNSMIL voiced help for native mediation efforts, significantly these led by elders and group leaders, emphasising the necessity to shield civilians amid mounting tensions.
Colleges shut, residents advised to remain indoors
The GNU’s Ministry of Inner Affairs urged residents to remain house and keep away from motion, warning of additional instability, whereas the Ministry of Schooling suspended lessons throughout Tripoli on Tuesday, citing the deteriorating safety state of affairs.
The GNU’s media platform mentioned early on Tuesday that the Ministry of Defence had absolutely taken management of the Abu Salim neighbourhood.
“I heard heavy gunfire, and I noticed purple lights within the sky,” one resident advised the Reuters information company on situation of anonymity.
Two others advised 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 the 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 understood to function.
A number of districts have seen what native sources describe as “suspicious navy 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 mentioned the renewed clashes have prompted anger and fear.
“Individuals are indignant that each time these armed teams conflict, civilians are caught within the crossfire,” he mentioned, including that residents are demanding “accountability”.
“When these teams combat and persons are killed, nobody is held accountable. Locals need justice, and count on the authorities to carry these behind the violence accountable,” he mentioned.
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 international governments.
