Violence resumed and broke the UNSMIL-brokered ceasefire in the Libyan capital.
Al-Summod Brigade, led by Salah Badi, said it had seized Hamza camp in Mashroa Al-Hadba in southern Tripoli after kicking out “Ghiniwa Militias” (Joint Deterrence Force of Abu Salim,) according to the media office of the brigade.
Clashes reached Brega oil depots and sirens were heard in the area with the company announcing that sales administration building on the Tariq Al-Matar (Airport Road) hit by random rockets. Violent fighting was also reported in Ain Zara and Khalit Al-Furjan.
The Libya Observer reports that social media accounts reported distress calls by families trapped in clashes’ zones, saying many rockets and artillery shells fell in the vicinity of their houses, leaving them and their children in great panic. “21 families were evacuated from the clashes’ zones in Mashroa Al-Hadba. We call on all families in those zones not to leave their houses till we get to them.” The Head of the Red Crescent office in Tripoli Yousif Bin Yousif said.
UNSMIL meets diplomatic community on the new violence
The UNSMIL convened a meeting between Libya’s diplomatic community and the Head of Ceasefire Monitoring Committee Hussein Abdullah. The UNSMIL said that diplomats expressed readiness to facilitate the committee’s operations, through logistical support. “Abdullah affirmed that consolidating the ceasefire is the first step toward a secure Tripoli for all Libyans free of weapons a militias.” UNSMIL said.
The General Electricity Company in Libya (GECOL) also was hit, as one of the generators was targeted by the clashes and thus the power station was shut causing the company huge material losses. “The same generator was hit in recent clashes but then re-operated after repairing it. But the workers feared for their lives and left the power station amid renewed clashes.” GECOL said in. statement.
Mitiga airport to remain closed
Libya’s Airports Authority (LAA) announced yesterday that the closure of Mitiga airport, Tripoli’s only functioning airport, is to continue.
The LAA said that this was due to “the continued clashes in the capital Tripoli and the falling of a shell inside the airport on Thursday”, which it said mercifully caused no damage.
It will be noted that there was talk of reopening Mitiga in the next few days in the hope of the UNSMIL-brokered Zawia ceasefire between Tripoli’s warring militias holding.
However, the ceasefire has been seriously breached over the last three days with indiscriminate shells falling across Tripoli.
Mitiga flights will continue to operate from Misrata airport, a two and a half hour drive for Tripoli residents.
Libya Observer, Libya Herald
