Clashes between two armed factions in Tajoura, an eastern suburb of Libya’s capital Tripoli, left at least nine people dead and 16 others wounded on Friday, according to the ambulance and emergency authority.
A local resident of Tajoura, speaking to media by phone, reported hearing intense gunfire before Friday prayers, noting that it was too dangerous to leave his home. The resident, who wished to remain anonymous due to security concerns, said the fighting lasted for several hours before calm was restored.
The ambulance authority released two short videos showing their teams recovering a body from the scene of the clashes.
The identities of those involved in the violence and the reasons behind the fighting remain unclear.
Tajoura, a coastal district located about 25 km (15 miles) east of Tripoli, has seen sporadic violence as Libya continues to grapple with instability. The country has experienced little peace since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ousted longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi, leading to a division in 2014 between rival factions in the east and west.