Tue May 13 01:39:08 UTC 2025: **Armed Clashes Erupt in Tripoli, Libya**
TRIPOLI, Libya (May 13, 2025) – Armed clashes erupted in Tripoli, Libya, on Monday evening following the reported death of an armed group leader, Abdulghani Kikli, commander of the Support Force Apparatus (SSA). The fighting, confirmed by three Tripoli residents, echoed throughout the city center and surrounding neighborhoods, including Abu Salim and Salah Eddin.
The SSA, a powerful Tripoli-based armed group, is nominally under the Presidential Council and the Government of National Unity (GNU). Following the violence, the GNU’s Interior Ministry urged citizens to stay home, prompting widespread traffic disruptions. While the GNU’s media platform claimed the Defense Ministry regained control of Abu Salim early Tuesday, the University of Tripoli suspended all activities until further notice.
The United Nations Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has called for an immediate ceasefire, warning that attacks on civilians could constitute war crimes. Libya has experienced ongoing instability since the 2011 uprising, with rival factions frequently clashing for control of the country’s resources. Though a ceasefire was established in 2020, efforts to resolve the political crisis have repeatedly failed. This latest outbreak of violence highlights the fragility of the peace and the continued threat of armed conflict in the capital.
First Piper 