Armed groups engaged in violent clashes in Libya, just west of the capital Tripoli. According to a local security official who spoke to AFP news agency, the conflict began on Friday evening in Sawija town. The Ministry of Health in Tripoli stated that they were working on evacuating some areas of the city and transporting injured individuals to hospitals.
Sawija has been experiencing clashes between armed groups since the previous night, with occasional fighting continuing into Saturday. Reports from media outlets indicated that casualties had occurred as a result of the fighting. The Libyan Red Cross also reported that they had successfully evacuated families from affected areas to safety.
Due to ongoing clashes, schools closed and several access roads were shut down. Videos circulating online showed armed men in jeeps engaging in gunfire with other groups, while smoke rose over multiple neighborhoods. Despite this, little is known about the reasons for these conflicts or their background.
Libya has been plagued by chaos and violence since 2011 when Muammar al-Gaddafi was overthrown. Armed militias and foreign mercenaries have been locked in conflict, with a UN-recognized interim government vying for power against a rival government based in Benghazi. Previous incidents have led to significant casualties, including an event in August 2023 which resulted in 55 deaths in Tripoli.
In summary, clashes between armed groups have erupted once again in Libya’s Sawija town just west of Tripoli. The Ministry of Health is working to evacuate some areas of the city and transport injured individuals to hospitals while the Libyan Red Cross is helping families escape harm’s way. Despite this violence occurring on a regular basis since 2011, it remains unclear what causes these conflicts or their backgrounds.
