The Brigade 444 Combat, affiliated with the Libyan Army’s General Staff in Tripoli, has published photos showing the deployment of its forces in Tarhuna, Bani Walid, Araban, Shqaiqah, and Gharyan. The images depict “masked” personnel stationed at road intersections and street junctions within the cities.
In a message addressed to the residents of these cities, Brigade 444 Combat stated on Friday that the deployment aims to “ensure your comfort and security.”
Brigade 444 Combat shared on Facebook: “The Libyan Army’s detachments, composed of your heroic sons, are stationed 24 hours a day, including during fasting hours, at the entrances and exits of Tarhuna, Bani Walid, Araban, Shqaiqah, and Gharyan. Their presence is for your comfort and security.”
The statement added, “The deployment of these detachments at crucial points and positions aims to cut off smuggling routes and maintain security and safety for citizens. These areas, which citizens can now traverse safely, were once hotbeds of criminal activity, including kidnapping and banditry.”
Earlier in April, Brigade 444 Combat also announced the deployment of its detachments at the Ras Ajdir border crossing with Tunisia.
The brigade remarked that this is part of the “Libyan Army’s operation group tasked with securing the area and combating smugglers and law offenders.”
Two days prior, Brigade 444 Combat reported its continued efforts in cutting smuggling lines across hundreds of kilometers, successfully setting up several ambushes in the desert to intercept smugglers in Libya’s western desert.
Known colloquially as “the Four Four Four,” Brigade 444 Combat is a unit under the Tripoli Military Zone of the Libyan Army’s General Staff, associated with the expired-term government. It is led by Brigadier Mahmoud Hamza, who was previously detained by the “Deterrence Force for Combating Terrorism and Organized Crime” in August 2023. This detention led to internal conflicts within the capital, Tripoli, which ended with his release.
This military maneuver highlights the ongoing efforts of the Libyan Army to restore order and combat smuggling operations, reflecting the complex security challenges facing Libya amidst its political fragmentation.
