The city of Zawiya, located west of the Libyan capital Tripoli, witnessed new security tensions on Thursday evening, following armed clashes between a militia affiliated with the Ministry of Interior of the national unity government and another affiliated with the Ministry of Defense. Local sources reported that the confrontations erupted between the "Kabawt" militia and another armed group led by Riad Belhaj within the residential neighborhoods of Zawiya, and the situation remains tense due to gunfire directed at the brother of the Belhaj militia's commander. Other sources also mentioned casualties.
A video circulated on social media documented the gunfire exchanges between the two armed groups, with widespread reports of grenade explosions, as efforts to calm the situation continue.
Meanwhile, the city of Zawiya, controlled by armed militias, is experiencing security chaos and an increase in violence, particularly in terms of murder and kidnapping, raising concerns among residents. On several occasions, public demonstrations have been held in front of the city's security directorate to protest the deteriorating security situation and to denounce the rise in murder crimes, the weakness of official security forces, and the lack of any government role against the rampant lawlessness of the armed militias that dominate all facilities.
