The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) confirmed Friday that its Tripoli headquarters narrowly escaped a rocket attack, with no casualties or damage reported.
The Libyan Interior Ministry said security forces foiled the attempt, intercepting a pickup truck loaded with two additional missiles and a launch platform after the assault.
Authorities said that the rocket, believed to be an anti-tank missile, struck a house in the Janzour district on the western outskirts of the capital.
While no group has claimed responsibility, the incident is under investigation.
The attempted strike coincided with UN envoy Hanna Tetteh’s briefing to the Security Council in New York, where she outlined a new roadmap designed to unify Libya’s fractured institutions and prepare the country for long-delayed elections.
In a statement, UNSMIL praised Libyan authorities for their “swift measures” and reaffirmed its commitment to continue operations.
Tripoli’s outgoung Government of National Unity, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbaiba, denounced the incident as a “failed attempt” to destabilize the capital and undermine Libya’s international standing.
It vowed to press ahead with efforts to dismantle militias and establish “professional, unified security forces” across the country.
The assault comes against a backdrop of persistent instability.
Libya has been divided since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ousted Muammar Gaddafi, with competing administrations entrenched in Tripoli and Benghazi.
In May, clashes between rival militias left at least eight people dead in the capital, highlighting the fragility of security even as authorities pledge reforms.
