Libya: Tensions rise after attempted killing of anti-terror chief
The attempted assassination of a senior security official on February 25th has reignited tensions in the Libyan city of Misrata, reflecting the ongoing instability within the country’s precarious security landscape.
According to Asharq Al-Awsat the Colonel Mustafa al-Ha survived the attack after gunmen opened fire while he was travelling in his car. However, there has been no official comment from Libya’s interim government although the incident has prompted heightened security measures across parts of the city.
Misrata, although considered to be relatively stable, has long been characterised by competing armed groups and shifting alliances, with tensions between rival factions periodically resurfacing.
The attempted assassination has drawn attention to unresolved disputes between security actors and local authorities, as rival armed groups in Misrata have previously clashed over control of local security responsibilities. It comes amid ongoing divisions within Libya’s political and military institutions. These continue to influence the country’s security landscape, particularly in western regions aligned with the Government of National Unity in Tripoli.
Tensions were further intensified after an armed group affiliated with the Defence Ministry of the interim Government of National Unity reportedly took control of the headquarters of the General Intelligence Service in Misrata, as reported by Asharq Al-Awsat on February 26th. The intelligence body is formally aligned with the Presidential Council, making the move a development between rival state-linked institutions.
In the aftermath of the attack, local leaders have called for restraint and coordination to prevent further escalation. The Libyan political analyst Mohammed Ghashout also urged the Misrata’s residents to reject the political and armed groups who had previously been forced out of the east of the country. He stated that if allowed to seek refuge in the city, they would turn “into time bombs that will explode in Misrata before any other city in the western region”. The incident has heightened concerns over instability within Misrata’s security landscape.
The attempted killing also comes amid broader uncertainty in Libya’s political process, as efforts to unify institutions and advance national elections remain stalled. Libya remains divided between rival administrations and competing armed groups, as institutional fragmentation and militia influence continue to shape the country’s fragile security environment. Against this backdrop, incidents involving senior officials carry the potential to trigger renewed conflict between rival factions.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Maghrebi.org, Libya Tribune
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