Tripoli— Intense fighting brook out in the Libyan capital Tripoli Monday after a leader of one of the main armed groups which are dominating the city was killed along with his bodyguards.
An unnamed security source confirmed to al-Wasat newspaper the killing of the head of the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) affiliated with the Presidential Council, Abdulghani al-Kikli, known as “Ghneiwa,” at the headquarters of the 444th Combat Brigade in the Tripoli Military Zone on Monday evening.
The security source “indicated that the reason for Ghneiwa’s presence there is unknown, and whether he was lured or attending a meeting,” the newspaper reported. There had been other deaths according to media reports as the incident occurred during a meeting attended by other unnamed leaders of armed groups.
No official statement has been released by Tripoli authorities as to what were the circumstances that led to the incident and the consequent widespread fighting all over the capital.
However, at 1:15 a.m. on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defense, headed by PM Abdulhamid Dbeibeh, confirmed, “the military operation has concluded successfully and has given instructions to complete its plan in the region to ensure sustained security and stability,” according to a statement published on GNU’s Facebook platform.
Earlier, the Ministry of Interior of the Government of National Unity (GNU) called on all citizens in Tripoli to “commit to staying in their homes and not venture out, for their own safety,” without providing further details.
Reacting to the swift and bloody developments in the Libyan capital, the US Embassy in Libya joined the UN mission “in calling for de-escalation amid reports of growing tensions in Tripoli,” it said on X.
UNSMIL issued a statement saying it “closely monitoring reports of the military build-up and escalating tensions in Tripoli and the broader western region. We urgently call on all parties to immediately deescalate the situation, refrain from any provocative actions, and resolve disputes through dialogue.”
“The Mission strongly supports Libyan efforts, including those led by elders and community leaders, to achieve a peaceful resolution and emphasizes the critical responsibility of all parties to protect civilians,” it added.
The French Embassy also echoed the UNSMIL’s statement, calling for an immediate cessation of clashes in the capital, Tripoli.
The Stability Support Apparatus was established by Presidential Council Resolution no. 26 in January 2021. Its headquarters are in Tripoli and it has powers across all regions of Libya.
It is administered by a president and three deputies, headed by Brigadier General Abdulghani al-Kikli. Its forces consist of members of the army and police from various agencies. It includes eleven main departments.
The SSA assumes a number of responsibilities and tasks, as stipulated in its founding resolution. Including strengthening security measures to protect official state headquarters from any security threats, the protection of officials whenever necessary, contributing to the security and protection of land and seaports, and combating illegal immigration in coordination and cooperation with the relevant authorities.
