Tripoli erupts: Clashes intensify as civilians call for safe corridors
Fighting broke out in several neighborhoods, including Janzur, Al-Riqata, and Garyan. Civilians, including children and patients in need of medical care, issued urgent appeals for the establishment of humanitarian corridors.
A source from the Ministry of Defense in the unity government pointed out that a gradual truce had begun to take hold in certain areas in an effort to ease the security situation.
According to the Libyan Ambulance and Emergency Service, the ongoing clashes have severely disrupted evacuation and medical response efforts. Officials reported receiving multiple distress calls from trapped civilians but said many areas remained inaccessible due to the intensity of the fighting.
EgyptAir canceled its scheduled flight from Cairo to Tripoli's Mitiga International Airport, citing instability in the capital. It is the first airline to suspend service since the current round of violence began.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) condemned the clashes and the continued mobilization of armed groups, calling on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and pursue dialogue aimed at resolving disputes peacefully.
The escalation follows the May 12 assassination of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, known as 'Ghnewa,' head of the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA). His killing—reportedly by forces linked to Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbaiba—triggered some of the heaviest fighting Tripoli has seen in years. Dbaiba-aligned units responded by dismantling SSA positions, taking control of key areas, and arresting dozens of fighters.
Libya has remained mired in conflict since the 2011 uprising that ended the rule of Muammar Gaddafi. The power vacuum that followed led to the rise of competing governments and armed factions. In 2014, the country effectively split between rival administrations in the east and west, each backed by local militias and foreign actors.
Despite a UN-brokered ceasefire in 2020, political divisions persist. The internationally recognized Government of National Unity is based in Tripoli, while a parallel administration continues to operate from the east.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Kirkuk–Baniyas Pipeline: Iraq's direct oil lifeline to the Mediterranean
Shafaq News Amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and volatile global energy markets, Iraq and Syria are revisiting the prospect of reviving the Kirkuk–Baniyas oil pipeline — a strategic export route that once carried Iraqi crude to the Mediterranean before decades of conflict and political rupture shut it down. Its restoration could give Baghdad a direct outlet to European markets, reducing dependence on Gulf ports and the Strait of Hormuz. On August 9, Syrian Minister of Energy Mohammad al-Bashir announced plans to visit Iraq to discuss the rehabilitation of the line linking Iraq's northern oilfields to Syria's Baniyas terminal, in a step aimed at strengthening bilateral energy cooperation. From Strategic Vision to Dormancy The concept of a northern export route emerged in the 1930s but materialized after Iraq's oil nationalization in 1972, as Baghdad sought to bypass Basra's foreign-controlled terminals. Stretching 880 kilometers from the 'K1' station in Kirkuk to the Syrian coast, the system included three parallel pipes, 12 to 30 inches in diameter, with key transit hubs such as 'K3' in Haditha. Designed to transport up to 1.4 million barrels per day, the line reached peak use in the 1980s, moving substantial volumes to Europe. Its operation was repeatedly interrupted — halted in 1982 when Syria sided with Iran during the Iran–Iraq War, reduced to minimal flows in the 1990s under UN sanctions, briefly restarted in 2000, and permanently shut after the 2003 US-led invasion left large sections in disrepair. Northern Oil Industry and Strategic Stakes The pipeline's operator, the North Oil Company — established in 1927 as the Iraq Petroleum Company before nationalization — manages some of the Middle East's oldest and richest oilfields, including Kirkuk, Bai Hassan, Jambur, Khabbaz. Based in Kirkuk, the company currently produces 250,000–300,000 barrels per day but plans, in partnership with BP, to expand Kirkuk field output to 750,000 barrels. Such growth would require additional export capacity to relieve pressure on southern terminals. Baghdad views the Kirkuk–Baniyas corridor as a tool to diversify routes, secure energy flows, and improve marketing flexibility. For Syria, it promises transit fees, increased port activity, and a renewed role as a regional energy hub. 'Its revival is not just an economic project — it is a strategic choice that will give Iraq greater maneuverability in marketing its crude and strengthen its energy security,' Iraqi Prime Minister's financial advisor Mudhir Mohammad Saleh told Shafaq News. Energy analyst Youssef Abdullah estimated the restored pipeline could handle 200,000–300,000 barrels per day, providing Iraq with a direct Mediterranean link and reducing reliance on the politically sensitive Strait of Hormuz. He added that the project could also serve as a foundation for broader Iraqi–Syrian cooperation in energy and transportation. Rehabilitation Plans and Challenges A senior North Oil Company official said an Iraqi delegation recently traveled to Syria to advance discussions, which covered: -A full technical survey of the pipeline and related infrastructure. -Formation of joint Iraqi–Syrian committees to assess security and technical requirements. -A comprehensive rehabilitation plan, potentially including rerouted segments and upgraded pumping stations. The official estimated the cost at $300–600 million, with possible financing from the federal budget, foreign partnerships, or regional investors. Despite these efforts, obstacles remain significant: extensive infrastructure damage, security risks along the route, political complexities, and the need to navigate international sanctions on Syria. Analysts caution that while the project could attract foreign investment to Iraq's northern energy sector, it may also face resistance from actors wary of engaging in sanctioned territories.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Iranian Security Chief Ali Larijani begins two-day visit to Iraq
Shafaq News – Baghdad On Monday, Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, arrived in Baghdad for a two-day official visit. Upon arrival, Larijani met with Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim Al-Araji. According to Iran's official news agency IRNA, he will consult with Iraq's three presidencies, State of Law Coalition leader Nouri Al-Maliki, and other political figures. During his stay, Larijani is expected to finalize new security agreements. Plans also include a visit to Najaf on Tuesday, where a meeting with Iraq's leading Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, remains possible. Larijani's visit comes at a time of heightened political maneuvering in Baghdad, as US officials are pressing the Iraqi government not to approve the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Authority law, which would formalize and expand the powers of the paramilitary coalition that includes several Iran-aligned factions. Following his visit to Iraq, Larijani will travel to Lebanon. Talks are set to focus on national unity, independence, and expanded economic and trade ties, alongside Iran's continued support for Lebanon's stability and development. Appointed Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council by President Masoud Pezeshkian on August 5, Larijani succeeded Ali Akbar Ahmadian. He previously served three consecutive terms as Speaker of Iran's Islamic Consultative Assembly and continues as a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Oil prices fall as investors await US-Russia talks on Ukraine
Shafaq News - New Delhi Oil prices fell in Asian trade on Monday, extending declines of more than 4% last week as investors awaited the outcome of talks between the U.S. and Russia later this week on the war in Ukraine. Brent crude futures fell 33 cents, or 0.5%, to $66.26 a barrel by 0430 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 39 cents at $63.49. Expectations have risen for a potential end to sanctions that have limited the supply of Russian oil to international markets, after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. The talks follow increased U.S. pressure on Russia, raising the prospect that penalties on Moscow could also be tightened if a peace deal is not reached. "If peace talks falter and the conflict drags on, the market could quickly pivot to a bullish stance, potentially triggering a sharp rally in oil prices," said Sugandha Sachdeva, founder of SS WealthStreet, a New Delhi-based research firm. Trump set a deadline of last Friday for Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, to agree to peace or have its oil buyers face secondary sanctions. At the same time, Washington is pressing India to reduce purchases of Russian oil. Consultancy Energy Aspect estimated Indian refiners have already purchased WTI totalling 5 million barrels for August loadings, with an incremental 5 million barrels possible depending on tender outcomes, and 5 million barrels for September loadings. WTI arbitrage to Asia remains open, and India looks set to continue absorbing U.S. crude for now, Energy Aspects said in a weekly note. Trump's higher tariffs on imports from dozens of countries, which took effect on Thursday, are expected to weigh on economic activity as they force changes to supply chains and fuel higher inflation. Dragged down by the gloomy economic outlook, Brent fell 4.4% over the week ended Friday, while WTI dropped 5.1%. "The near-term direction will hinge on several key events, including the August 15 meeting between the U.S. and Russian presidents, upcoming speeches from Federal Reserve officials, and the release of the U.S. CPI data," said Sachdeva. Separately, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Saturday showed China's producer prices fell more than expected in July, while consumer prices remained flat, highlighting the extent to which weak domestic demand and ongoing trade uncertainty are weighing on consumer and business sentiment.
