Armed Clashes Once Again Bring Violence to the Capital of Libya

Reports from Tripoli, the capital of Libya, indicate that the city has been the scene of nighttime clashes between powerful armed factions in several areas, continuing until the early hours of Tuesday, August 15. This is the most severe violence in Tripoli this year. According to Reuters, the clashes between the faction known as 'Brigade 444' and the 'Special Deterrence Force' have ended months of relative calm in Tripoli. These two factions, which have supported the interim 'National Unity' government, had brief confrontations last year as well. The casualty figures are unknown, but a medical unit affiliated with the Libyan Ministry of Defense reported finding three bodies. An ambulance service spokesperson also reported that 19 people were injured and 26 families were evacuated from the battle scenes. The Ministry of Health has urged citizens to donate blood. The African country of Libya has had little peace and security since a rebellion supported by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2011 and the division of the country between rival eastern and western factions in 2014. During this time, no progress has been made towards achieving a sustainable political solution, and armed factions with power and financial resources are caught in battles with each other. A source from 'Brigade 444' stated that the 'Special Deterrence Force,' which controls the 'Mitiga' airport in Tripoli, captured Brigade Commander Mahmoud Hamza on Monday. Following this, clashes occurred late on Monday and early Tuesday near the 'Mitiga' airport. Approximately 400 Pakistani migrants were freed from smuggling warehouses in Libya.