The University of Tripoli has announced the suspension of studies due to armed clashes taking place in the capital.
“The Administration of the University of Tripoli announces the suspension of studies, exams, and administrative work for today, Monday, May 29, 2023,” the University’s media office stated.
The Ambulance and Emergency Service in Tripoli announced that it had raised the maximum level of readiness in all its branches and offices in the city, due to the renewed clashes.
The Service also held the warring parties responsible for the safety of civilians, calling on the fighting parties to “use reason and stay away from armed disputes.”
Notably, violent clashes with medium weapons erupted between rival militia forces on Sunday evening, in the Ras Hassan area and Jaraba Street, in central Tripoli, according to many videos circulating on social media.
Local residents said that they heard the sounds of crossfire, and spoke of the heavy deployment of military vehicles, amid fears of an escalation in fighting during the coming hours.
There has been no confirmation from the authorities regarding the occurrence of human or property losses so far, and the situation is growing tenser.
Earlier on Sunday, large military convoys belonging to the 444th Brigade, which includes more than 150 armed vehicles, were spotted in the center of the capital Tripoli, amid ongoing military mobilization by the Special Deterrence Force (SDF).
Well-informed sources confirmed that a state of tension has been prevailing in Tripoli, as a group of the Special Deterrence Force (SDF) kidnapped a senior commander from the 444th Brigade, Musab Zreig.
According to security sources, Zreig was with his family on the “Corniche of Tripoli” in the center of the capital when the armed group kidnapped him and took him to an unknown destination. As a result, the Brigade mobilized its forces, hinting at an escalation in the event that the abducted senior commander was not released.
The sources said that the SDF carried out the operation in response to the arrest of Ahmed Al-Shaftari, the driver of Mohammed Al-Kani, the boss of the Al-Kani militia, who is wanted by the Attorney General for murder.
This tension highlights the issues facing the country, which has two rival governments, Tripoli, and the wider western region under the control of militias. This also draws attention to the complexities facing the political solution, and the difficulty of reaching state stability.
These repeated clashes are of concern to the international community, including the United Nations, which has condemned the violence on multiple occasions. It has called on the country’s leaders to respect the ceasefire agreement and to return to political talks to get out of the crisis and reach elections.
