Militia crisis worsens in Tripoli as allies of Al Qaeda join attacks
Extremists linked to Al Qaeda were involved in recent attacks on the Libyan capital Tripoli, a militia supporting the UN-backed government said.
Fighters from the coalition of the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries, which held Libya’s second largest city for two years, were seen on Tripoli’s outskirts, it said.
The military coalition includes extremist groups allied with ISIS and Al Qaeda,
The claim is the first time that the government has accused the coalition of involvement.
More than 100 people have been killed since a group of anti-government militias started an attack on Tripoli in late August.
Yesterday, there was heavy shelling of residential areas in the south and centre of the city.
“Yes, they are here,” Ahmed Ben Salim, spokesman for the Special Deterrence Force, or Rada, told The National.
“Many wanted criminals are involved in the assault on Tripoli.
“They fight alongside Salah Badi, who has no mandate from any government body to attack the capital.”
Mr Badi was a senior commander in Libya Dawn, a militant coalition that razed Tripoli’s main airport in 2014.
He recently returned from his base in Turkey to lead an attack on Tripoli on August 26, with fighters from his Al Samoud Brigade and a group known as the Kani, which is based in the Libyan suburb of Tarhouna.
About 80 people are missing since the Tripoli attacks began and 350 have been injured, the Health Ministry said.
A ceasefire brokered by the UN mission to Libya this month has repeatedly been ignored, but the largest clash broke out on Thursday.
It has pitted a group of pro-government militias known as the Tripoli Cartel against a coalition of brigades from outside the capital, including Mr Badi’s forces.
On Thursday night, the UN mission for the first time said Mr Badi was responsible for restarting the violence, and it also blamed a pro-government brigade known as the Abu Sleem Central Security Force.
“One of the most prominent leaders in the war against Tripoli is Mohamed Darmona, a violent criminal who was arrested in Misrata but released without being referred to the judiciary,” Mr Ben Salim said.
“He has attacked Metiga [Tripoli’s only functioning airport], kidnapped people and tried to release ISIS fighters that Rada holds.
“Some of these ISIS members are important in smuggling fighters into Libya but he still tried to release them.
“These people are illegitimate and do not follow any government authority.”
Rada is an ultra-conservative brigade that controls Metiga airport and a nearby prison that holds about 2,500 inmates, including Hashem Abedi, brother of 2017 Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi.
They are officially a brigade operating under the Interior Ministry but largely do as they please.
The Tripoli Cartel, which has held sway for more than two years since ousting Libya Dawn, is accused of extortion and kidnapping rivals.
But they insist they want peace and presidential elections to fix the chaos consuming the capital.
“There needs to be a provisional suspension of all the fighting with all forces withdrawing to their bases without any conditions,” Jalel Al Wershafani, spokesman for the powerful Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade, told The National.
“Then we need parliament and government elections.”
A French-led push for elections in December has failed amid the turmoil.
The Tripoli Cartel has fought against rival militias that attacked the capital since late August.
Repeated condemnation and calls for peace by the international community have failed, as the violence that at first encroached only on Tripoli’s suburbs now threatens to reach the capital’s centre and most populated areas.
Al Samoud Brigade did not respond to requests for comment.
Many wanted criminals are involved in the assault on Tripoli. They fight alongside Salah Badi [of Libya Dawn], who has no mandate AHMED BEN SALIM Spokesman for the Special Deterrence Force (Rada)