On Tuesday, violent clashes erupted in Tajoura, a district in the Libyan capital of Tripoli, between the Rahbat Aldrou Brigade, known as the Cow Brigade after its commander Bashir Al-Baqara, and the Sabriya Al-Rathimi Brigade. The fighting, marked by the use of heavy and medium weapons, resulted in a shell striking the Trailer Company on Factory Road, intensifying the already volatile situation.
Eyewitnesses reported that a shell struck the Trailer Company on Factory Road amid the ongoing clashes. The conflict, which has intensified, involves heavy and medium weapons, leaving the area highly volatile.
The clashes resulted in two fatalities: one civilian and one combatant, according to Libyan sources. The fighting has also led to significant property damage and a heightened military presence in the capital.
Several families are trapped in vacation homes, urgently requesting safe passage to return to their residences. The Emergency and Ambulance Service reported that emergency teams from the Tajoura Ambulance Office have redirected these stranded families through Wadi Al-Rabee Road.
The conflict erupted between the Rahbat Aldrou Brigade and the Sabriya Al-Rathimi Brigade, leading to the closure of all entry and exit points in Tajoura. Vehicles have been forced to turn back, and individuals are prohibited from carrying their phones to prevent any recording of the conflict.
These clashes come just one day before Tripoli is set to host the International Migration Forum, which will see participation from international and regional figures.
The violence in Tajoura is part of the broader struggle among militias that have formed alliances and rivalries in the power vacuum left by the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The Rahbat Aldrou Brigade, under the leadership of Bashir Al-Baqara, has been one of the more prominent militias in the region, known for its aggressive tactics and significant firepower. The Sabriya Al-Rathimi Brigade is another powerful militia involved in numerous skirmishes across Tajoura.
The clashes highlight the fragile security situation in Libya, where various factions continue to fight for dominance in the absence of a strong central government. The persistent violence in Tajoura is symptomatic of the broader instability plaguing the country, which has struggled to establish a unified government and stable security apparatus amid ongoing power struggles among militias.
