Clashes in Libya’s capital raise concerns over stability ahead of elections
The UN's assistance mission to Libya expressed "grave concern" over the heaviest fighting in months.
Libya’s capital, Tripoli, saw intense fighting between rival armed factions before dawn on Friday morning, raising concern for the country’s fragile cease-fire ahead of historic nationwide elections set for December.
Residents reported gunfire around 2:30 a.m. in the densely populated Salahuddin district in Tripoli’s south, according to Reuters.
At least some of the fighting was between two major militias, the Stabilization Support Force and the 444 Brigade.
It remains unclear how the fighting began, but the head of a local body established to oversee the capital’s armed groups, Abdulbaset Marwan, said in a statement the Stabilization Support Force took action to “correct” the 444 Brigade’s “deviation” and “noncompliance with military orders.”
