At least nine people were killed in fierce clashes between armed militias in the Tajoura district of Tripoli, Libya, further escalating tensions in the country’s capital.
The violence erupted on Friday morning between two rival groups, the “Rahbat al-Duru’ Brigade” and the “Martyr Sabriya Brigade,” following an assassination attempt on a militia leader.
The situation in eastern Tripoli remains tense, with reports of military movements and intermittent gunfire along the coastal road between Tajoura and Qasr al-Khayar.
The road has been closed due to the fighting, according to local sources.
The clashes were sparked by an attack on Bashir Khalafallah, widely known by his nickname “al-Baqara,” the commander of the Rahbat al-Duru’ Brigade.
Khalafallah was seriously injured after being targeted by members of the Martyr Sabriya Brigade. Following the attack, members of his brigade reportedly seized control of the Sabriya Brigade’s headquarters, with videos circulating on social media showing smoke rising from the site.
The Rahbat al-Duru’ Brigade later announced that Khalafallah had been moved out of intensive care and was in stable condition.
Tripoli has seen numerous violent confrontations between rival militias since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, as various factions vie for power and influence in the absence of a unified national government.
The city remains divided among multiple armed groups, each controlling different parts of the capital.
