Tripoli, Libya – The fiercest fighting in Libya’s capital in years subsided on Wednesday following a ceasefire announcement by the Government of National Unity (GNU), offering a fragile calm after days of deadly militia battles. Residents across Tripoli described scenes of devastation and fear as rival armed groups clashed in a fresh struggle for control over the city.
The violence erupted late Monday following the killing of prominent militia leader Abdulghani Kikli, known locally as “Ghaniwa.” His death triggered a rapid and violent response, pitting factions aligned with GNU Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah against rivals in a bid to consolidate control over the fragmented capital.
The main combatants in the latest escalation were the 444 Brigade and the Special Deterrence Force (Rada), according to the English-language Libyan Observer. Both factions are heavily armed and have long maintained a presence in Tripoli. Clashes also spread to the city’s western edges, with gunfire reported near areas traditionally controlled by factions from Zawiya, a town west of the capital.
In a statement, Libya’s Defence Ministry said “neutral units” from the police force had been deployed to sensitive sites in a bid to de-escalate the conflict. “Regular forces, in coordination with the relevant security authorities, have begun taking the necessary measures to ensure calm,” the statement read. Notably, these neutral units are not equipped with heavy weaponry.
Scenes from across Tripoli captured the destruction: bullet-riddled buildings, charred vehicles, and residents huddled in fear. “It’s terrifying to witness all this intense fighting,” said one resident in the Dahra district. “I had my family in one room to avoid random shelling.”
Mohanad Juma, a resident of the Saraj suburb, described the pattern of violence: “Each time it stops, we feel relieved. But then we lose hope again.”
The clashes appear to have significantly shifted the balance of power within Tripoli. The 444 and 111 Brigades, both aligned with Dbeibah, quickly overran positions previously controlled by Ghaniwa’s Stabilisation Support Apparatus (SSA). This victory not only weakened one of the capital’s key militias but also underscored Dbeibah’s growing grip on Tripoli’s security landscape.
Following the operation, Dbeibah ordered the immediate dismantling of “irregular armed groups,” a move seen as both a show of authority and a warning to remaining militias outside his alliance. The Rada force now stands as the last major Tripoli-based group not aligned with the GNU leader.
While Tripoli remains the epicentre of the conflict, Libya’s deep-seated divisions mean the risk of wider escalation remains. Any prolonged fighting could draw in forces from outside the capital, including those loyal to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, who controls much of eastern Libya through his Libyan National Army (LNA).
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) issued a strong condemnation of the violence. “We are deeply alarmed by the escalating violence in densely populated neighbourhoods of Tripoli,” the mission said in a statement, urging all sides to respect the ceasefire and return to political dialogue.
Libya, a major oil producer and strategic hub for migrants heading to Europe, has been gripped by instability since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. Despite a 2020 truce that paused major warfare, the country remains split between rival eastern and western administrations.
While oil production in the south and east remains unaffected by the current fighting, the Sirte Oil Company, a subsidiary of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), has suspended land transport operations to western Libya, including Tripoli, citing safety concerns.
As Tripoli begins to count the cost of the latest violence, residents remain wary. The ceasefire, while welcomed, offers no guarantee that the capital has seen the last of its militia battles.
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