At least nine people lost their lives and sixteen others sustained injuries during violent clashes that erupted in the Tajoura district of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on Friday. The Libyan ambulance and emergency authority confirmed the grim toll.
A local resident, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, recounted hearing intense gunfire prior to Friday prayers.
The individual described the situation as too dangerous to leave their home. The exchange of fire reportedly continued for several hours before subsiding.
Heart-wrenching footage shared by the ambulance authority depicted their teams recovering the body of a victim.
The circumstances surrounding the violence, including the identities of the warring factions, remain unclear at this time.
Located approximately 25 kilometers east of Tripoli, Tajoura is a coastal district that has frequently been a battleground in Libya’s protracted conflict.
The North African nation has been plagued by instability since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with a subsequent power struggle dividing the country into rival eastern and western factions.