UN Sounds Alarm Over Rising Tensions Following Fresh Clashes in Libyan Capital

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has issued a strong call for de-escalation following renewed violent clashes in Tripoli, Libya’s capital, late Monday. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the mission expressed grave concern over the deteriorating security conditions and the use of heavy weaponry in densely populated civilian areas.

“UNSMIL is alarmed by the unfolding security situation in Tripoli, with intense fighting using heavy weaponry in areas densely populated by civilians,” the statement read. The mission urgently appealed to all involved parties to halt hostilities and restore calm, underscoring that all factions are bound by international humanitarian law to protect civilians. “Attacks on civilians and civilian objects may amount to war crimes,” it added.

The latest escalation reportedly followed the alleged killing of Abdulghani Kikli, a powerful militia commander affiliated with the Support Force Apparatus (SSA), one of Tripoli’s most influential armed factions. The SSA, according to its official website, is a state-sanctioned security body aligned with Libya’s Presidential Council. Reuters reported that heavy gunfire could be heard throughout parts of the capital as tensions flared.

Libya has remained politically unstable since the fall of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The power vacuum led to the emergence of numerous armed groups vying for control, splitting the country into two main rival administrations. The UN-backed Government of National Unity (GNU) controls Tripoli and the western regions, while the Government of National Stability governs from Benghazi in the east. Despite a ceasefire agreement reached in 2020, the country remains fragmented, with sporadic outbreaks of violence, often fueled by competition for influence and access to Libya’s vast oil and gas resources.

In response to the current clashes, the GNU’s Ministry of Health has instructed hospitals and medical facilities in Tripoli to activate emergency protocols and remain on high alert. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior has urged residents to remain indoors for their safety. Academic activities have also been disrupted, with the University of Tripoli announcing the indefinite suspension of all classes, examinations, and administrative duties.

The renewed violence coincides with reports that the Trump administration in the United States had been engaging Libya on a controversial plan to repatriate migrants from the U.S. to the conflict-ridden nation. CNN reported that migrants had been readied for deportation earlier in the week, waiting for hours on a bus before being returned to detention facilities. The White House declined to comment on the deportation plans.

As instability once again grips Tripoli, international observers warn that without a durable political solution, Libya’s fragile peace will remain at risk.