Libya: Fierce fighting in Tripoli, more than 150 casualties

The Libyan Ministry of Health said at least 28 people were killed and nearly 130 injured in fierce clashes in the capital Tripoli on May 26 between forces loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) and rival gunmen.

Health Ministry spokesman Anwar Frajallah gave the casualty figure but did not say whether civilians were among the casualties. However, according to figures provided by a GNA security official, Hashem Bishr, 23 soldiers loyal to the GNA were killed and more than 29 were injured.

Illustrative photo. Source: VNA

South of the capital, an armed group loyal to the GNA seized Al-Hadhba prison, where more than 30 former senior officials under leader Moamer Kadhafi were being held, including former Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmudi and former intelligence chief Abdullah Senussi. All were sentenced to death in 2015. Late on May 26, the GNA justice and interior ministers issued a joint statement saying all prisoners had been handed over to GNA authorities in good health.

On the same day, fighting also broke out in the Abu Slim, Al-Hadhba and Salaheddin areas south of the capital. British Ambassador to Tripoli, Peter Millett, said he heard explosions and artillery fire. Many witnesses said tanks were also involved in the fighting.

UN Special Envoy for Libya Martin Kobler called on all parties to end the fighting, and affirmed: "Political goals cannot be achieved through violence. We must act rationally, for the good of the country and to protect civilians." Mr. Kobler condemned "the actions of gunmen who are threatening security" ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins on May 27 in Libya. By the afternoon of May 26, the fighting had eased, but there was still a lot of gunfire in some areas of the capital.

Tripoli has been ravaged by a power struggle between dozens of different armed groups since the uprising that toppled leader Gaddafi in 2011. The GNA was established in December 2015 and began operating in Tripoli in March 2016. However, the GNA has struggled to establish leadership of the country.

According to qdnd.vn