Two die in street battle in Libya in tit-for-tat killing
A violent clash between rival groups in Libya, just days after a UN official spoke of the need for presidential elections, has shown the international community how delicate local politics is there, in a divided country run by two governments.
Two people were killed and seven injured on March 12th in the evening, in violent clashes that erupted between rival armed militias in the town of Tajoura, east of Tripoli, amid fears of an escalation in the coming hours, at a time when the international community is pushing for general elections to end the political deadlock in the country, the Arab language alarab.co.uk website reports.
The confrontations took place between the “Rahbat al-Duru'” battalion, led by Bashir Khalaf Allah, nicknamed “The Cow” and the “Aswad Tajoura” militia, led by Abd al-Rahim bin Salem, near the Air Force camp in Bir al-Usta Milad, located between the regions of Tajoura and Ain Zara, southeast of Tripoli.
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The militias used light and medium weapons, according to testimonies of residents close to the area, according to local sources.
The clashes came hours after the killing of members of the “Rahbat al-Duru” battalion by a gunman from the “Aswad Tajoura” battalion, on 11th March , which prompted the two sides to mobilize, before the first attacked the headquarters of the second on Sunday evening, which caused panic among the people of the region. .
These confrontations are the first clashes between the two parties affiliated with the Ministry of Defense of the outgoing government headed by Abdul Hamid al-Dabaiba, as they shared influence in Tajoura more than two years ago, specifically after they were able to expel other rival armed groups at the end of October 2020.
