Intense fighting broke out in the capital overnight as rival factions exchanged intense gunfire and several loud explosions took place across the city. Images and videos going viral on social media showed clashes with dozens of buildings, including residential ones, destroyed and several cars vandalized and burnt.
The United Nations-backed Government of National Unity (GNU) said on its official Facebook page that the conflict was “started by a military group randomly firing at a convoy passing in the Zawia Street area, while the armed group was in the west of Tripoli. They were gathering at the 27th Gate, and the Jebus Gate in the south of Tripoli.”
The country’s interim prime minister, Abdulhamid Dabibeh, the head of the GNU, is based in Tripoli, in the western part of Libya. The parliament building in Tobruk in the east of the country is the seat of a rival government led by Prime Minister Fathi Bashaga.
Bashagh is trying to enter and take over Tripoli because he claims that GNU is illegal and he should walk away. The GNU has denied and claimed that power should be handed over peacefully through elections, not by force.
According to the internationally recognized government’s official news agency, the Libyan news agency LANA, the municipality of Tripoli blamed both the UN-recognized government of national agreement and the Libyan National Army for the deteriorating situation in the capital.
Lana pointed out that it also called on the international community to protect civilians.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday called for an “immediate stop” of the violence.
“(The Secretary-General) urges the Libyan parties to engage in a genuine dialogue to resolve the current political impasse and not to use force to resolve their differences. He further urged the parties to protect civilians and reduce tensions.” Calls to refrain from taking any action that widens and deepens divisions,” said Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for the Secretary of State.
“The UN stands ready to provide good office and mediation to help Libyan actors come out of the political deadlock, which is threatening the stability of Libya’s hard work,” Dujarric said.
US Ambassador to Libya Richard B Norland urged the importance of “avoiding violent clashes in Tripoli”, according to a tweet from the US embassy in Libya.
Norland said he and Presidential Council President Menfi discussed the need for de-escalating on Friday, the embassy tweeted on Saturday.
“We agreed on the urgent need to finalize the constitutional basis and move towards elections, and also on the importance of taking steps to increase transparency and accountability in the management of Libya’s oil revenues,” the tweet said.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Libya said in a tweet on Saturday that it is “deeply concerned about the ongoing armed conflicts, including indiscriminate moderate and heavy shelling in civilian populated areas in Tripoli, causing civilian casualties and including hospitals.” Civil facilities have been damaged.”
“The United Nations calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and reminds all parties of their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian goods,” the tweet said.