Ongoing clashes rocked the Libyan capital of Tripoli early Tuesday morning following the controversial detention of a powerful militia leader by security forces a day earlier.
Witnesses reported continued bursts of gunfire from light and medium weapons in the Fernaj neighborhood of Tripoli starting early Tuesday. The clashes come after forces from Libya’s Deterrence Apparatus for Combating Organized Crime and Terrorism detained Colonel Mahmoud Hamza, commander of the 444th Combat Brigade, at Mitiga Airport Monday while he was en route to a graduation ceremony in Misrata.
The 444th Brigade is one of Tripoli’s most formidable militias, controlling territory in the southern part of the capital. Following Hamza’s apprehension, heavy gunfire erupted near the Al Malikia Mall on Al Saddra Street, where the 444th Brigade has bases adjacent to facilities of the Judicial Police. Streets in the bustling commercial area laid largely deserted as most shops shuttered, according to resident accounts.
More shooting was reported before dawn Tuesday in the contested zone between the Tripoli Medical Center and the Fernaj neighborhood, where the 444th Brigade has been battling rival militias for control. The city’s Emergency Medical Services announced they had set up a safe corridor to evacuate civilians from the area as Tripoli braced for more potential clashes.