Rival Armed Groups Clash in Western Libya Leaving Five Dead

Clashes between rival armed groups in western Libya left between four and five people dead and at least 10 wounded on Tuesday. The fighting occurred in the cities of Sorman and Zawiya and involved the Anti-Security Threat Agency, linked to Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah, and the 103rd Infantry Battalion, which operates under the ministry of defence.

Combatants used drones and heavy weapons in residential neighborhoods, leading to the torching of military vehicles. The instability triggered a mass escape of inmates from the Sorman jail. In response, the Judicial Police Authority launched an investigation to identify those who fled, while the Sorman municipality suspended work and declared an exceptional holiday due to a dire humanitarian situation and serious infrastructure damage.

In Zawiya, the Azzawiya Oil Company warned employees to avoid clash zones near the city's oil refinery. A neutral force was eventually deployed to defuse the conflict and restore relative calm, while the main route between Tripoli and the Zawiya region was closed as a precaution. The region is a known hub for organized crime, specifically diesel smuggling and human trafficking.