Militia Clashes Kill Seven in Tripoli Amid Leadership Assassination

Deadly militia clashes erupted in Tripoli, Libya, following the assassination of Abdel-Ghani al-Kikli, also known as “Gheniwa,” the commander of the powerful Stabilization Support Authority (SSA), leading to at least six deaths. Al-Kikli, whose group has been accused of war crimes and abuses, was killed at a compound controlled by the 444 Brigade, led by Mahmoud Hamza, an ally of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. In response to his death, Hamza’s forces launched coordinated attacks on SSA bases, seizing weapons and detaining fighters. The violence spread across Tripoli's southern neighborhoods, particularly Abu Salim, disrupting residents’ lives and prompting government calls for calm. The UN mission in Libya condemned the violence and urged an immediate ceasefire, warning of the risk of war crimes against civilians. The Tripoli-based government declared a successful military operation to restore security, with Prime Minister Dbeibah thanking forces for asserting state authority in the capital.