Explosion in Front of Iranian Ambassador's Residence in Libya

A Libyan security official reported on Sunday, February 3, to Reuters about an explosion at the entrance gate of the Iranian ambassador's residence in the capital of Libya. This official stated that no one was injured in the incident. The Iranian ambassador's residence is located in central Tripoli. According to the Iranian News Network, some sources have reported that this explosion was caused by a car bomb in front of the building where the Iranian ambassador resides in the 'Ben Ashour' area of Tripoli. A Libyan security official, who wished to remain anonymous, also told the Associated Press that the homemade bomb that exploded was hidden among garbage bags near the entrance gate of the building. Fars News Agency reported that 'news sources in Libya' told them that this explosion is a 'terrorist' act. These sources also mentioned that the Iranian ambassador was not present at his residence during the incident. IRNA reported that the Iranian embassy is closed, and the ambassador performs his duties intermittently. Al Jazeera also reported that the explosion was caused by a hand grenade. No group has claimed responsibility for the explosion yet, and no further details about the incident have been released. Four years after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's government, Libya is in chaos, with two rival governments and parliaments struggling for control of the country, during which extremist Islamic groups have taken advantage of the power vacuum to establish themselves. Meanwhile, militants reportedly affiliated with the Islamic State in Libya caused the deaths of 40 people and injured 70 others on Friday, February 1, by exploding three vehicles in the city of 'Qubah'. Abdullah al-Thani, the internationally recognized Prime Minister of Libya, is based about 40 kilometers from Qubah in the city of Bayda. The capital, Tripoli, is currently under the control of his rival faction, the 'Libyan Dawn' group, which has forced the Prime Minister to retreat to the eastern regions of the country. Egypt and Western countries have warned that armed Islamic militants are gaining a foothold in Libya. Last month, a group affiliated with the Islamic State attacked a hotel, killing five foreign nationals and four Libyan citizens.