Western Libya Clashes Leave Four Dead, Security Source Says
TRIPOLI- At least four people were killed and more than 10 others wounded in overnight clashes between rival armed groups in western Libya, a security source said on Tuesday, as fighting disrupted areas west of the capital and prompted authorities to deploy a neutral force to prevent further escalation.
The violence erupted late on Monday in areas south of Sorman, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) west of Tripoli, and spread to several neighborhoods in the nearby city of Zawiya, according to an official from the Zawiya security directorate who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The official said the fighting involved members of the Anti-Security Threat Agency and the 103rd Battalion. The Anti-Security Threat Agency is affiliated with Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah, whose administration is recognized by the United Nations, while the 103rd Battalion operates under Libya’s Ministry of Defense.
According to the security source, the clashes left four people dead and injured at least 10 others. Heavy and medium weapons fire could still be heard in parts of the area on Tuesday morning as security forces sought to contain the violence.
The official said a “neutral force” had been deployed to separate the rival groups and reduce the risk of a broader confrontation. As a precautionary measure, the main highway linking Tripoli with the Zawiya region was closed overnight.
Neither the office of Prime Minister Dbeibah nor the Defense Ministry immediately commented on the fighting.
Sorman and Zawiya have frequently witnessed clashes between armed factions competing for influence in western Libya. The coastal region, which hosts one of the country’s largest oil refineries, has long been a center of rivalry among armed groups involved in illicit activities, including diesel smuggling, human trafficking and other organized criminal networks.
Images and videos circulating on social media appeared to show thick black smoke rising over residential districts in Sorman, along with burned military vehicles and equipment. AFP said it could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage.
Libya has remained politically divided since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar Qaddafi. The country is split between the UN-recognized government in Tripoli, led by Abdelhamid Dbeibah, and a rival administration in the east backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar.
The latest fighting underscores the continuing security challenges facing Libya despite repeated domestic and international efforts to stabilize the country and unify its competing political and military institutions.
