Militia Infighting Kills At least Nine in Libya’s Capital
Sudan Events – Agencies
Clashes between two heavily armed militia groups in Libya’s capital terrorized residents and killed about a dozen people, the latest bout of violence in the largely lawless North African nation, officials said Saturday.
The hours-long clashes, which involved heavy weapons, occurred Friday in Tripoli’s eastern neighbourhood of Tajoura between Rahba al-Duruae militia, which is led by Bashir Khalfallah — known as al-Baqrah — and another militia al-Shahida Sabriya, the officials added.
The Health Ministry’s Ambulance and Emergency Services said at least 9 people were killed and 16 others were wounded in the hours-long clashes.
The clashes stemmed from an attempted assassination of al-Baqrah on Friday, which his militia blamed on al-Shahida Sabriya, according to local media reports.
Khaled al-Meshry, the newly-elected head of the west-based High Council of State, condemned the assassination attempt and called for an investigation to hold those responsible accountable.
The warring parties are allied with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah’s government. Its spokesman didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Libya has been divided for years between rival administrations in the east and west, each backed by armed groups and foreign governments. Currently, it is governed by Dbehiba’s government in Tripoli and by the administration of Prime Minister Ossama Hammad in the east.
Western Libya is controlled by an array of lawless militias allied with Dbeibah’s government, while forces of military commander Khalifa Haftar control the country’s east and south.
Friday’s militia infighting was the latest in a series of clashes between militias competing for influence in the country’s west.
