Not less than 27 people, including civilians, have been confirmed killed, and 106 others injured following clashes between two powerful armed militia rivals in the southern Libyan capital of Tripoli.
The north African country’s emergency services, which confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday, said fighting between the two factions began on Monday night and spilled into Tuesday before security forces were called in to quell the fighting.
The statement said the clashes were sparked after the detention of the commander of a militia group, the “444 Brigade”, Mahmoud Hamza, as he attempted to travel through Tripoli’s main Mitiga airport. He was reportedly arrested by a rival faction, the “Special Deterrence Force”, which controls the airport.
The Special Deterrence Force and the 444 Brigade are considered the strongest militia forces in the Libyan capital, according to local media.
“The clashes erupted late Monday between militiamen from the 444 Brigade and the Special Deterrence Force,” the emergency services said.
“Tensions flared after Mahmoud Hamza, a senior commander of the 444 brigade, was allegedly detained by the rival group at an airport in Tripoli earlier in the day.”
State news agency, LANA, reports that the clashes ceased late on Tuesday following an agreement reached with the UN-recognized Government of National Unity to transfer Hamza to a neutral party.
The agreement encompasses the cessation of all military operations in Tripoli, the return of military units to their barracks, assessment of damage to public and private property, and the Government of National Unity to issue compensations, the LANA report said.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), in a separate statement, said it was closely monitoring security incidents and developments in Tripoli and their impact on the civilian population.
“The Mission reminds all parties involved of their responsibility under international law to protect civilians,” it warned.