The oil-rich country of Libya is shaken by increasing violence and political discord. On Saturday, at least 13 people were killed and 140 were injured as a result of clashes between militia groups from different political groups, reports TT/AP.
“Indiscriminate”
The clashes took place mainly in the capital, Tripoli, which was rocked by explosions and shelling. Six hospitals are said to have been hit and, according to the Ministry of Health, ambulances have had problems and even been prevented from reaching the areas affected by the fighting.
According to UN sources, shelling is taking place “indiscriminately” where the civilian population lives.
Famous actor Mustafa Baraka has also been killed in one of the residential areas where the fighting has been going on, which has led to outrage and sadness on social media.
The US Embassy in Libya said in a statement that it was “deeply concerned” about the clashes.
The conflict threatens to grow
The fighting is said to be caused by the ongoing power struggle between the country’s Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and rival politician Fathy Bashagha who operates from the coastal city of Sirte.
Both groups accuse each other of being responsible for the ongoing fighting. Images have been published on social media of, among other things, a burning mosque, buildings with bullet holes and burnt out cars.
The ongoing violence threatens to further exacerbate the political crisis in the country after two years of relative ceasefire.
The unrest has been ongoing since 2011 when former dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in a NATO-backed operation and killed, and after 2014 when the House of Representatives was moved from the capital Tripoli to Tobruk.