AFP: Fresh clashes erupt in Tripoli despite ceasefire announcements

On May 14, Fresh gunbattles broke out in Libya's capital, Tripoli, between two powerful armed factions, just a day after authorities had declared the fighting to be over, according to a security official.

Clashes resumed between the Radaa force and the 444 Brigade in several key areas of the Libyan capital, including the city’s port, the source reported.

While fighting subsided towards the end of the day, television reports and local residents told AFP that although some bakeries had reopened, schools remained closed. The Libyan Red Crescent confirmed it had recovered a body from a main street in Tripoli, although no official casualty figures have been released.

The capital was shaken by heavy arms fire and explosions late on May 12, with authorities confirming at least six deaths from the violence. The official described the renewed clashes as "urban warfare", noting the use of light and medium weapons in residential districts, while heavy weapons were deployed elsewhere.

Libya continues to grapple with instability in the aftermath of the NATO-backed 2011 uprising that ousted and killed longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi. The country remains divided between a UN-recognised government in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and a rival eastern administration backed by the Haftar family.

The 444 Brigade, aligned with Dbeibah, controls parts of southern Tripoli, while the Radaa force, which holds several key government facilities, operates in the eastern part of the capital.

An interior ministry source said the fighting intensified in southern and western Tripoli after Radaa brought in reinforcements to confront the 444 Brigade. Meanwhile, over 500 people took to the streets in the Souq el-Joumaa district—a Radaa stronghold—chanting slogans against the Dbeibah-led government and opposing the proposed dissolution of the 444 Brigade.

Reports emerged this week of the death of Abdelghani al-Kikli, leader of the Support and Stability Apparatus, who was reportedly killed in a facility under the control of the 444 Brigade in the Abu Salim district.

Additional groups were said to be mobilising in support of Radaa, with a source telling AFP that fighters from nearby Zawiya were moving into the capital. Radaa is known for detaining drug and alcohol smugglers, as well as Islamic State affiliates.

At the same time, “more Misrata brigades may continue to join Dbeibah's side,” Libya analyst Jalel Harchaoui told AFP. He described the recent clashes as among the most dangerous Tripoli has seen in years, warning that they signal a “territorial reshuffle” as factions attempt to “insinuate themselves into downtown Tripoli”.

Türkiye, a key backer of the Tripoli-based government, called on "all parties to implement a full and lasting ceasefire without delay and to engage in dialogue to settle disputes," according to a statement from its foreign ministry.

Despite Dbeibah’s claim on May 13 that the situation had been brought under control, fighting flared again. He thanked government forces "for restoring security and asserting the state's authority in the capital" and announced several executive orders, including the dissolution of certain bodies previously managed by armed groups other than the 444 Brigade.

However, the renewed violence has cast doubt on the government's grip on the situation. Harchaoui warned of “a more prolonged, destructive, and existential battle with a nationwide dimension” after what he described as Dbeibah’s “failure to secure a quick victory”.

Authorities later announced a ceasefire, yet gunfire reportedly continued in western parts of the city.

Embassies of Germany, France, the United States, Britain, and Italy expressed "their deep concern about the recent violence in Tripoli" in a joint statement on May 14 evening, urging "authorities to take all measures to protect civilians".

The United Nations mission in Libya also voiced alarm, stating it was "deeply alarmed by escalating violence in densely populated neighbourhoods of Tripoli for the second night in a row." It called for "an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in all areas, allowing safe corridors for the evacuation of civilians trapped in intense conflict zones".

By Khagan Isayev