Intense fighting erupted in the Libyan capital overnight and lasted until Saturday morning, with rival factions exchanging heavy gunfire and the sounds of several loud blasts ricocheting around the city.
The clashes took place in Tripoli’s city centre, witnesses said, amid a political standoff over control of Libya’s government that has seen armed groups increasingly mobilize around the capital in recent weeks.
Asma Khalifa, a Libyan researcher at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies, also reported heavy clashes in Tripoli. She stated via Twitter on Saturday morning that “armed groups in the city will always look to expand their own power and influence”.
#Tripoli woke up to heavy clashes, at the core of it is what Haithem Tajouri triumphantly said to a camera "if you take a base from me, I'll take two" regardless of politics. Armed groups in the city will always look to expand their own power and influence. ربي يحمي المدنين
— Asma Khalifa (@AsmaKhalifaLY) August 27, 2022
There was no immediate comment from the interior and health ministries regarding the fighting, which stopped late in the morning, or any casualties.
The main Libyan standoff pits the Government of National Unity in Tripoli under Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh against a rival administration under Fathi Bashagha, which is backed by the country’s House of Representatives.
The United Nations Mission in Libya warned this week against any attempt to resolve the dispute through violence.
UN warns against use of violence to resolve legitimacy claims in Libya