Since the announcement by the Deterrence Force for Combating Organized Crime and Terrorism in Libya regarding the arrest of Brigade 444's Commander, Mahmoud Hamza, based on a memorandum from the Libyan military prosecutor's office, clashes with heavy weapons have erupted between armed groups in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. Tensions began following the detention of Commander Mahmoud Hamza, a significant military leader in western Libya, who leads one of the most influential and organized armed forces.
Mahmoud Hamza started his military career in the Deterrence Force led by Abdel Raouf Kara, but later separated and founded the "20-20 Brigade" based in Mitiga, which eventually became Brigade 444 and joined the General Staff of the National Unity Government. It has since become one of the most important armed groups in Tripoli, controlling extensive and strategic areas in western Libya and securing large parts of the capital and cities such as Tarhuna and Bani Walid. The brigade has played a role in maintaining security and combating smuggling.
Hamza gained local and international fame for his mediation efforts, often preventing fighting and stopping clashes between armed militias in Tripoli and western Libya. He played a significant role in halting violent armed confrontations that erupted when former Prime Minister designated by the parliament, Fathi Bashagha, attempted to enter Tripoli to take power from Dbeibah. He intervened to provide a safe passage for Bashagha to leave the capital and restore calm.
In September 2021, Colonel Mahmoud Hamza stated that he had strong and solid evidence indicating that the recent events in Tripoli were part of a conspiracy and external planning to eliminate the brigade he leads. He added via his Facebook page that Brigade 444 had left Tripoli and moved to areas that had long been victims of robbery and smuggling gangs, managing to reduce smuggling by 90%, leading to the availability of fuel in areas that had been deprived for 10 years. He also mentioned that during the brigade's year-long operation, they succeeded in vacating 110 military sites of armed groups in southern Tripoli, dismantling them and seizing their weapons.
Hamza accused the commander of the Military Region of Tripoli, General Abdel Basit Marwan, of betrayal for not adhering to military laws, as he had not taken any administrative actions, directives, or instructions regarding Brigade 444's alleged deviation. He explained that if there had been any misconduct by Brigade 444 as claimed, there were telegrams, instructions, and orders, and that there is a higher military commander and military police to whom complaints can be raised.
In June 2022, fierce armed clashes erupted between militias backed by a stability support force led by Agnewa al-Kikli and another group associated with Al-Nawasi near the Tuesday Market Island in Tripoli. Media platforms affiliated with the interim unity government later released a video of Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah making a phone call to Mahmoud Hamza, the commander of Brigade 444, about the clashes at Tuesday Market Island, where he was following the developments and instructing him to disperse the fighting.
