Conflict Subsides in Tripoli's Capital after Prime Minister Dbeibah Overtakes Control Following Violent Skirmishes in which Six Lives were Lost.

In the wake of brutal skirmishes sweeping through Tripoli, Libya's United Nations-endorsed government has moved to assert control, following the reported murder of influential militia leader Abdelghani al-Kikli, more commonly known as Gheniwa.

The Emergency Medicine and Support Centre confirmed they retrieved six corpses from the Tripoli district of Abu Salim on Tuesday, after violent exchanges escalated throughout the capital the prior night and into the morning. The city echoed with explosions and gunfire, mostly in its southern region, as rival armed factions clashed for numerous hours.

Here's What You Need to Know

The fighting arose from al-Kikli's slaying at the hands of a rival militia on Monday, according to a senior government official and the Associated Press news agency. Reports asserted that the militia commander of the Stability Support Authority (SSA) was assassinated during a meeting at the 444 Brigade's base, a militia backing Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.

Al-Kikli had faced accusations from Amnesty International of war crimes and grave human rights violations throughout the past decade.

Discussing the event, Libya analyst Jalel Harchaoui told AFP news agency that al-Kikli was ambushed, and a relative confirmed the news, adding that "among Tripoli's most successful armed group leaders," al-Kikli had a history of outsmarting the Prime Minister.

On Tuesday, Dbeibah declared the commencement of a military operation aimed at dismantling "unruly" armed groups. This move is viewed as an attempt to reclaim state authority and solidify his power base in the capital.

Tarek Megerisi of the European Council on Foreign Relations told Reuters that al-Kikli was a "de facto monarch" of Tripoli. His forces had influence over the city's internal security agency, cash transfers from the central bank, numerous public companies, and several government ministries.

Al-Kikli's forces were said to operate prisons and hold sway over various ministries and financial institutions. This power shift following his death should not be underestimated.

Clashes also erupted outside the capital, with confrontations between Tripoli armed groups and Misrata-based rival militias. A temporary curfew was implemented before order was restored.

For More Information

Breaking News Alert

Privacy Policy | reCAPTCHALibya, a prominent oil producer and a primary transit route for immigrants and refugees migrating across the Mediterranean, remains fraught with division between Dbeibah's UN-recognized administration in the west and a rival eastern government allied with military commander Khalifa Haftar.

External powers including Turkey, Russia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates continue to support opposing factions in the escalating power struggle.

Tense Tranquility Returns to the Capital

Dbeibah declared that a "military operation" had reinstated peace and reaffirmed the government's authority. On his social media platform, he praised the army's efforts, stating, "What was accomplished today demonstrates that institutional entities have the capacity to safeguard the nation and uphold the dignity of its citizens."

Schools across parts of the capital have temporarily closed.

The UN mission in Libya expressed concern over the use of heavy weapons in densely populated residential areas, warning that "attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure may constitute war crimes" and urging all parties involved to "immediately halt fighting."

Libya plummeted into chaos after a NATO-backed uprising led to the death and removal of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. For most of the past decade, the country has been governed by rival administrations in eastern and western Libya, each backed by a multitude of militias and foreign governments.

The recent brutality in Tripoli, Libya, has led to a surge of refugees fleeing from the war-and-conflicts, seeking safety and healthcare in other countries.
Amidst breaking news about the escalating politics and violence in Libya, the UN mission has expressed pressing concerns about the use of heavy weapons in residential areas, warning of potential war crimes.
The death of influential militia leader Gheniwa (Abdelghani al-Kikli) has intensified the political landscape in Libya, with the general-news of his alleged assassination leading to clashes between warring factions and disrupting health services in Tripoli.