UN urges calm as heavy fire, clashes erupt in Libya's Tripoli
The United Nations has called for urgent de-escalation in Libya's capital, Tripoli, as rival militias exchanged fire in the city's southern districts, prompting authorities to impose an emergency stay-at-home warning.
Residents reported hearing heavy gunfire and explosions across multiple neighbourhoods from about 9pm local time (19:00 GMT), according to journalists on the ground. The extent of casualties so far remains unclear.
In a statement early Tuesday, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said it was 'alarmed by the unfolding security situation in Tripoli, with intense fighting with heavy weaponry in densely populated civilian areas'.
UNSMIL added that it 'calls on all parties to immediately cease fighting and restore calm, and reminds all parties of their obligations to protect civilians at all times'.UNSMIL voiced support for local mediation efforts, particularly those led by elders and community leaders, emphasising the need to protect civilians amid mounting tensions.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs urged residents to stay home and avoid movement, warning of further instability. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education suspended classes across Tripoli on Tuesday, citing the deteriorating security situation.
Libyan social media platforms have been flooded with videos and images showing gunfire, plumes of black smoke rising, armed men in the streets and convoys entering the city.
Footage verified by Al Jazeera's Sanad fact-checking agency captured the sound of medium-calibre gunfire in several neighbourhoods, including areas where the powerful Stability Support Authority militia is known to operate.
Several districts have seen what local sources describe as 'suspicious military manoeuvres', with convoys arriving from Az-Zāwiyah, Zintan, and Misrata – seen by many as preparations for a possible showdown in the capital.
The country plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The oil-rich nation has been governed for most of the past decade by rival governments in eastern and western Libya, each backed by an array of fighter groups and foreign governments.
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