Fierce Clashes West of Tripoli and Prison Escape Amid an Undeclared Curfew
Fighting west of the Libyan capital has spread from Zawiya to Sorman, while the municipality of the latter has announced the complete suspension of its activities. Meanwhile, the Libyan Red Crescent has raised its level of preparedness and called for safe humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians.
Armed clashes erupted west of Tripoli on Tuesday, beginning in the city of Zawiya before spreading to the neighboring city of Sorman, amid heavy gunfire and escalating security tensions. Local authorities warned of threats to civilian lives and urged residents to remain indoors.
Videos circulating on social media show intense gunfire in Sorman, west of Tripoli, along with clashes between local armed groups. Thick smoke can also be seen rising from several locations inside the city, although the identities of the parties involved and the reasons behind the fighting remain unclear.
The clashes began at dawn on Tuesday in Zawiya, located approximately forty-two kilometers west of the capital, before extending to Sorman, around sixty kilometers from Tripoli.
The ambulance and emergency services in Zawiya announced that the coastal road passing through the city was unsafe because of the ongoing armed clashes in the area, warning residents to stay away from the combat zones.
Libyan authorities have not yet released any official figures regarding casualties, nor have they identified the armed groups involved in the fighting.
Reports of prisoners escaping from Sorman prison
As the clashes continued, additional videos appeared to show what was described as the escape of several inmates from Sorman prison amid gunfire around the correctional facility.
No official information has yet been released regarding the number of prisoners who escaped or the charges for which they had been detained.
The Libyan Red Crescent branch in Sorman announced that it had placed its emergency teams on maximum alert in order to monitor developments and respond rapidly to calls from citizens.
The organization urged the conflicting parties to act responsibly and establish safe humanitarian corridors to ensure the free movement of emergency teams, facilitate evacuation operations, and protect civilians.
It also called on residents to stay away from streets and open areas in order to avoid the risk of stray bullets and shrapnel, and urged them to remain in their homes and leave only in cases of extreme necessity until the security situation stabilizes and safe passages are secured.
Sorman municipality suspends operations
For its part, the municipality of Sorman condemned what it described as unlawful acts, stating that it was following the developments in the city “with deep concern” because of the fear and anxiety they had caused among residents.
In a statement published on its official accounts, the municipality announced the suspension of work across all of its departments and institutions, declaring Tuesday an exceptional holiday while maintaining the operation of essential services and emergency teams as required.
The municipality also urged citizens to remain where they were, avoid leaving their homes except in cases of absolute necessity, stay away from the areas affected by the clashes, and contact the emergency teams of the Libyan Red Crescent if needed.
Security tensions in western Libya
These developments are taking place in a region that has long experienced recurring security tensions because of the presence of numerous armed groups competing for influence, particularly in the cities along Libya’s western coast.
The cities of Zawiya and Sorman hold strategic importance because of their proximity to Tripoli and the presence of vital infrastructure in Zawiya, including the Zawiya oil refinery. As a result, any deterioration in security in the area raises concerns about transportation routes and energy supplies.
Libya remains divided between two rival governments. The first is the Government of National Unity, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and based in Tripoli, which controls western Libya despite the expiration of its mandate. The second government, appointed by the House of Representatives in early 2022 and currently headed by Osama Hammad, is based in Benghazi and administers eastern Libya as well as most of the country’s southern regions.
