Libya: Ten killed in Tripoli clashes

Posted On 18 January 2019

Number of times this article was read : 36
Influencing the influencers: Some of The North Africa Journal's subscribers
From Shield & Alert:

Tripoli, Jan 17, 2019 (AFP) – Two days of clashes between rival militias near Libya’s capital Tripoli have left 10 people dead and 41 wounded, the health ministry said Thursday. Fighting between armed groups erupted Wednesday despite a truce deal four months ago that had halted deadly battles in the city. A medical source told AFP that fierce clashes hit an area some 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Tripoli on Thursday, after fighting around an airport 25 kilometres from the capital the previous day.

The violence has pitted the Tripoli Protection Force, an alliance of militias from the city, against the Seventh Brigade group from the town of Tarhuna. The health ministry said that there were women and children among the wounded. Tripoli was plagued by militia clashes that killed at least 117 people and wounded more than 400 between late August and late September. The United Nations mission in Libya on Wednesday condemned a “military mobilisation” in southern Tripoli and warned groups not to break a ceasefire  agreement it brokered in September. The Seventh Brigade has maintained its positions around Tripoli since the accord was reached, a move that has angered rival militias.

Libya has been torn between rival administrations and a myriad of militias since the overthrow and killing of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. The main armed groups in Tripoli say they are loyal to the internationally backed Government of National Accord (GNA), but officials have struggled to exert real control over the fighters. The GNA announced security reforms in the wake of the bloodshed last year, aimed at curbing the power of militias in the capital.

A rival administration in the east of Libya is backed by strongman Khalifa Haftar and his self-proclaimed Libyan National Army. The UN is pushing for elections to help stabilise Libya, but chronic violence has delayed plans for the vote.


See how messy the crisis is in Libya.  Below are some of the militias operating in the area. Many others are not listed.

List of armed groups in the Second Libyan Civil War

A number of armed groups had involved themselves in the Libyan Civil War.

Second Libyan Civil War (2014–2020)

House of Representatives,
Gaddafi loyalists and allies
Presidential Council and allies General National Congress and allies  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Al-Qaeda, other Salafist jihadists, and allies
Libyan Interim Government (Tobruk-based)[1][2]

Gaddafi loyalists[7]

Allied armed groups:

 Egypt[13][14] (from February 2015)

 United Arab Emirates[13] (limited involvement)

 Sudan (RSF)[16]
Supported by:

Government of National Accord
(since 2016)

Allied armed groups:

Syrian opposition Syrian National Army (since Dec. 2019)[49]

 Turkey (since Jan. 2020)[54][55]

 United States
(since 1 Aug. 2016)

Supported by:

National Salvation Government (Tripoli-based)[72]

Allied armed groups:

Supported by:


High Council of Revolution (from December 2016)

 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (from 2014)[86]

Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries[90][91]

Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna (2014–19)

Benghazi Defense Brigades[93][94]
Ajdabiya Revolutionaries Shura Council (2015–16)[95]

Allied armed groups:

Military situation in the Libyan Civil War as of 10 December 2016.
  Under the control of the Tobruk-led Government and Libyan National Army
  Under the control of the Government of National Accord and Allies
  Under the control of the National Salvation Government
  Controlled by the Mujahedeen Councils of Derna, Benghazi and Adjabiya
  Controlled by local forces
  Controlled by Tuareg forces

Notes

The Tripoli brigade and Tajoura battalion are in fact currently fighting against haftar in Tripoli (April 2019)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Rival Libyan factions sign UN-backed peace deal". Al Jazeera. 17 December 2015. Archived from the original on 19 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Libya's rival factions sign UN peace deal, despite resistance". The Times (Malta). 17 December 2015. Archived from the original on 19 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  3. ^ Mohamed, Esam; Michael, Maggie (20 May 2014). "2 Ranking Libyan Officials Side With Rogue General". ABC News. Archived from the original on 26 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  4. ^ al-Warfalli, Ayman; Laessing, Ulf (19 May 2014). "Libyan special forces commander says his forces join renegade general". Reuters. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  5. ^ a b Martin, Guy. "UN report accuses foreign governments of arming both sides in Libyan civil war - defenceWeb". Archived from the original on 2015-07-27. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
  6. ^ "Sudanese rebel group acknowledges fighting for Khalifa Haftar's forces in Libya". Libya Observer. 10 October 2016. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Gaddafi loyalists join West in battle to push Islamic State from Libya". The Daily Telegraph. 7 May 2016. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  8. ^ a b Abdul-Wahab, Ashraf (5 August 2014). "Warshefana take Camp 27 from Libya Shield". Libya Herald. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  9. ^ "After six years in jail, Gaddafi's son Saif plots return to Libya's turbulent politics". The Guardian. 6 December 2017. Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019. The Warshefana tribal militia, Gaddafi loyalists who controlled some of the area around Tripoli, were routed last month by rival forces from Zintan
  10. ^ a b "المسماري: قوات المعارضة التشادية شاركت في الهجوم على الهلال النفطي". Archived from the original on 2017-03-11. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
  11. ^ "Exclusive: Russian private security firm says it had armed men in east Libya". Reuters. 10 March 2017. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  12. ^ "Russian mercenary who fought in Donbas killed in Libya". UAWire. 7 April 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d Kirkpatrick, David D; Schmitt, Eric (25 August 2014). "Egypt and United Arab Emirates Said to Have Secretly Carried Out Libya Airstrikes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  14. ^ "Egypt prepared to take lead in ensuring stability in Libya". Libya Herald. 28 August 2014. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  15. ^ ВВС Єгипту завдали серію авіаударів по позиціях ІГ в Лівії Archived 2017-03-12 at the Wayback Machine - РІА Новини, 16.02.2015
  16. ^ de Waal, Alex (20 July 2019). "Sudan crisis: The ruthless mercenaries who run the country for gold". BBC News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  17. ^ "Libya attack: French soldiers die in helicopter crash". BBC News. 20 July 2016. Archived from the original on 28 July 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  18. ^ a b c "France confirms three soldiers killed in Libya". Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  19. ^ "Libya: Tripoli condemns French military involvement". Archived from the original on 24 July 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  20. ^ "France says three military officials killed in Libya |". Archived from the original on 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
  21. ^ "Putin Promotes Libyan Strongman as New Ally After Syria Victory". Bloomberg News. December 21, 2016. Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  22. ^ "Putin hat Libyen im Visier". Bild. March 14, 2017. Archived from the original on March 14, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  23. ^ a b c "Backing Haftar to the hilt?". Qantara.de. 15 April 2019. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  24. ^ "Championing rogue warlord Haftar, Russia reveals true agenda in Libya". Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. 22 January 2019. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  25. ^ "Saudi Arabia Promised Support to Libyan Warlord in Push to Seize Tripoli". The Wall Street Journal. 12 April 2019. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  26. ^ "Khalifa Haftar says Egypt and Chad are his top supporters". Libyan Express. September 6, 2016. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  27. ^ Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Libya needs international maritime force to help stop illicit oil, weapons – UN experts".
  28. ^ Vohra, Anchal (5 May 2020). "It's Syrian vs. Syrian in Libya". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  29. ^ Pamuk, Humeyra (7 May 2020). "U.S. says Russia is working with Syria's Assad to move militia to Libya". Reuters. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  30. ^ "First fighter of Russian-backed Syrian mercenaries killed in Libya's battles, and number of recruits jumps to 450". SOHR. 24 May 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  31. ^ "Exclusive: U.S. Targets ISIS in Libya Airstrike". The Daily Beast. 14 November 2015. Archived from the original on 14 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  32. ^ Eric Schmitt. "US Scrambles To Contain Growing ISIS Threat in Libya" Archived 2017-08-05 at the Wayback Machine. New York Times. 21 February 2016. "The American airstrikes in northwestern Libya on Friday, which demolished an Islamic State training camp and were aimed at a top Tunisian operative, underscore the problem, Western officials said. The more than three dozen suspected Islamic State fighters killed in the bombing were recruited from Tunisia and other African countries".
  33. ^ "US abandons long-time CIA asset Khalifa Haftar, brands him as spoiler". Libyan Express. 18 August 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  34. ^ "Libya's Haftar pledges to take imminent control of Benghazi and Tripoli". Archived from the original on 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  35. ^ "Jordan pledges support for Libya in talks with General Haftar". Al Arabiya. 13 April 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  36. ^ Greece’s Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias Visits Libya, Dendias noted that Haftar’s position is aligned with Greece’s.
  37. ^ "Haftar and Israel: From animosity to alliance. Tel Aviv provides Haftar militias with training and weapons as Libya may become new market for Israel's military exports". Anadolu Agency. 28 July 2020.
  38. ^ "Libya's Haftar 'provided with Israeli military aid following UAE-mediated meetings with Mossad agents'". The New Arab. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  39. ^ "Libya: Flight data places mysterious planes in Haftar territory". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  40. ^ "Presidential Guard established". Libya Herald. 9 May 2016. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  41. ^ "Misrata brigades and municipality form security chamber to enable GNA to operate from Tripoli". Libyan Express. 28 March 2016. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  42. ^ "Unity government at last". Al-Ahram. 15 October 2015. Archived from the original on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  43. ^ "Bumpy road ahead for U.N.-proposed Libya peace deal". Reuters. 12 October 2015. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  44. ^ "Libyan Navy asserts control over ISIL-controlled Sirte". 10 June 2016. Archived from the original on 22 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  45. ^ "Renewed militia clashes shake Tripoli". Libya Herald. 16 December 2016. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  46. ^ "Tuaregs Announce Support for Serraj Govt". Libya-Business News. 27 October 2015. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  47. ^ "Tabu and Tuareg announce their support for GNA". Libyaprospect. 4 April 2016. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  48. ^ "Sabratha revolutionary brigades announce full support for GNA". Libyan Express. 21 March 2016. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  49. ^ "300 pro-Turkey Syrian rebels sent to Libya to support UN-backed gov't: watchdog - Xinhua | English.news.cn". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019.
  50. ^ a b c d "Turkey sends Syrian mercenaries to fight on its behalf in Libya". Gulf News.
  51. ^ Snell, Lindsey (February 10, 2020). "Hardline Islamist Syrian Mercenaries in Libya Make a Break for Italy".
  52. ^ "Turkey's involvement in Libya war: 7,400 Syrian mercenaries volunteer to go to Libya, nearly 200 of whom killed in Libyan territory so far • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". April 20, 2020.
  53. ^ a b "Battle continues to rage in Libya despite peace conference as Turkey floods country with jihadists". Morning Star. January 21, 2020.
  54. ^ a b c "Turkey's peacekeeping, security operations in Syria, Libya and East Mediterranean ongoing". Daily Sabah. April 20, 2020.
  55. ^ "Turkish involvement gives military boost to GNA in Libya's west | Michel Cousins". AW.
  56. ^ "Turkey sends troops and electronic warfare tools to Libya". The Independent. January 6, 2020.
  57. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (6 January 2020). "President Erdogan Says Intel Operatives Are In Libya Ahead Of Turkish Troop Deployment". The Drive.
  58. ^ Yan, Holly (August 2016). "US launches airstrikes on ISIS targets in Libya". CNN. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  59. ^ "Marine Harriers Strike ISIS Targets in Libya from USS Wasp". 3 August 2016. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  60. ^ Seck, Hope Hodge (23 August 2016). "Marine SuperCobra Helicopters Join ISIS Fight Over Libya". Military.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  61. ^ a b Wintour, Patrick (16 May 2016). "World powers prepared to arm UN-backed Libyan government". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 21 July 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  62. ^ "Italy Reportedly Sends Special Forces to Libya". 11 August 2016.
  63. ^ "Al-Serraj and Mogherini discuss more EU support for GNA". Libya Express. 18 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-01-19. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
  64. ^ a b "Turkey and regional rivals clash in Libya". Ahval News. 16 April 2019. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  65. ^ "UN appeals for urgent release of migrants trapped in Libya". Miami Herald. 12 April 2019. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  66. ^ "Pakistan offers to help train Libyan Army | The Libya Observer". libyaobserver.ly.
  67. ^ "Libyans Fear Rapprochement Between GNA, Pakistan". Asharq AL-awsat.
  68. ^ "Iran FM voices support for Turkey-backed Libya government". Middle East Monitor. 17 June 2020., June 17, 2020
  69. ^ "Morocco renews support to GNA as only legitimate party in Libya | The North Africa Post". northafricapost.com.
  70. ^ Martin, Ivan (25 July 2020). "Malta teams up with Turkey in an attempt to make Libya stable". The Times (Malta). Archived from the original on 25 July 2020.
  71. ^ Moore, Jack (6 Feb 2015). "RIVAL LIBYAN FACTIONS TRAVEL TO KIEV AND MOSCOW SEEKING SUPPORT". The Times (Malta). Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  72. ^ "Libya's self-declared National Salvation government stepping down". Reuters. 5 April 2016.
  73. ^ a b "Libyan Dawn: Map of allies and enemies". Al-Akhbar. 25 August 2014. Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  74. ^ "LNA targets Tripoli and Zuwara but pulls back troops in Aziziya area". Libya Herald. 21 March 2015. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  75. ^ "Libya Observer". 10 March 2015. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2015 – via Facebook.
  76. ^ "Libya Observer". 16 March 2015. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2015 – via Facebook.
  77. ^ Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Impotent arms embargo". Archived from the original on 2017-03-12. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
  78. ^ "Misurata-based brigades parade their military might in Tripoli to support GNC - Libyan Express". 22 October 2016. Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  79. ^ "Op-Ed: Coup plotters still have control of their headquarters in Tripoli". 17 October 2016. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  80. ^ Stauffer, Beat (23 October 2014). "Machtkampf in Libyen: "Es geht um Macht, nicht um Ideologie"". Neue Zürcher Zeitung. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  81. ^ "Al-Ghasri says a force is in the making to protect oil crescent region, slams Haftar as Al-Qaeda affiliate - The Libya Observer". Archived from the original on 2017-03-12. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
  82. ^ "Too Many Chiefs". The Economist. 27 September 2014. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  83. ^ "Sudan militarily backs Libyan rebels: Bashir to Youm7". The Cairo Post. 23 March 2015. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  84. ^ "Rival Libyan Factions Travel to Kiev and Moscow Seeking Support". Newsweek. 6 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2019-07-29. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  85. ^ "LNA's Mismari accuses Sudan, Qatar and Iran of backing terrorism in Libya". Libya Herald. 22 June 2017. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  86. ^ "Libyan city declares itself part of Islamic State caliphate". CP24. 9 November 2014. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  87. ^ "Islamic State Expanding into North Africa". Der Spiegel. Hamburg, DE. 18 November 2014. Archived from the original on 21 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  88. ^ "ISIS comes to Libya". CNN. 18 November 2014. Archived from the original on 23 November 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  89. ^ a b Schmitt, Eric; Kirkpatrick, David D. (14 February 2015). "Islamic State Sprouting Limbs Beyond Its Base". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  90. ^ "٢٨ قتيلا من قوات الصاعقة ببنغازى منذ بدء الاشتباكات مع أنصار الشريعة" [Twenty-eight Al-Saiqa fighters killed in Benghazi since the beginning of clashes with Ansar al-Sharia]. Youm7. 29 July 2014. Archived from the original on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  91. ^ "تدهور الوضع الأمني في بنغازي وطرابلس نذير حرب جديدة" [Worsening of security in Benghazi and Tripoli as new war approaches]. Al-Arab. 27 July 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  92. ^ "Operation Dignity takes control of Guwarsha gate as fighting goes into seventh day". Libya Herald. 22 October 2014. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  93. ^ "Libyan revolutionary factions form Defend Benghazi Brigades". The Libya Observer. 2 June 2016. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  94. ^ "Benghazi Defense Brigades advance toward Benghazi". Libyan Express. 16 July 2016. Archived from the original on 18 July 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  95. ^ "Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb says Mokhtar Belmokhtar is 'alive and well'". The Long War Journal. 19 June 2015. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  96. ^ "ISIS Forming Alliance With Al-Qaeda in Libya to Plot Terror Attacks". 4 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
  97. ^ "Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb". Stanford University. 1 July 2016. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  98. ^ "Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb backs ISIS". 2 July 2014. Archived from the original on 11 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  99. ^ "ISIS, Al Qaeda In Africa: US Commander Warns Of Collaboration Between AQIM And Islamic State Group". International Business Times. 12 February 2016. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  100. ^ "Libya: Why the Gaddafi loyalists are back". Archived from the original on 2017-02-11. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Algeria: President announces early election, no one knows why

Algeria: President announces early election, no one knows why

Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, ordered the holding of an early presidential election on 7 September 2024, instead of the scheduled December date. The surprise announcement, which contradict the Algerian constitution that requires the election to take place...

Morocco: Price of butane gas to increase by 25% in April

Morocco: Price of butane gas to increase by 25% in April

(Photo: Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch)  Morocco will stop subsidizing butane gas in 2026, but prices will begin to increase next month, April 2024. The decision to lift subsidies was announced in October 2023 by billionaire Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, who also...

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This