On 21 November, a few hours after the assassination of Khanasa al-Mujahid, the wife of influential Zawiyya leader Moaz al-Manfoukh, the First Support Force condemned her killing ‘in the strongest terms’. They held PM Abdul Hameed Dabaiba and Minister of Interior Emad Trabelsi fully responsible for any consequences that may occur, and demanded that those involved be brought to justice immediately.
In a second statement later in the evening, the First Support Force condemned what it described as a systematic campaign by web pages affiliated with Government of National Unity (GNU) Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs, Walid al‑Lafi, accusing them of falsely linking the First Support Force to a heinous crime committed by ‘the Dabaiba organization’. The statement asserted that the purpose of these claims was to divide Zawiyya and sow discord among its residents. It warned that its patience with such actions was running out and declared it would not remain silent ‘over the blood of the martyr Khanasa al-Mujahid’. The Force gave the competent authorities 72 hours to identify and punish those responsible, stressing that if no action was taken, it would enforce the law by force.
Othman al-Lahab, commander of the 103rd Infantry Battalion (aka al-Sila’a Brigade), issued a sharp warning to Emad Trabelsi and PM Dabaiba. He demanded that the truth behind the killing of Khansa al-Mujahid be revealed within a set deadline. Al-Lahab cautioned that his battalion would not bear responsibility for any consequences if the circumstances of the crime remained concealed. He further urged the residents of Zawiyya to mobilize and demand justice, insisting that those involved in the assassination must be punished.
A convoy of armed pick-ups from Zawiyya, including troops from the First Support Force, deployed to western Tripoli. Troops from the Public Security Force deployed to the house of Moaz al-Manfoukh in al-Serraj. Although the situation between the Public Security Force and the First Support Force was very tense, there was no escalation.
On 22 November, Zawiyya leaders rejected an invitation by Public Security Force Commander Abdullah Trabelsi aka al-Farawila for a meeting, considering him ‘a traitor to his promises and untrustworthy’.
UNSMIL condemned the killing of al-Mujahid, urged swift transparent justice, highlighted the broader pattern of violence against women, and called for restraint to prevent escalating tensions.
The National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) condemned the killing, describing the incident as a deliberate and targeted assassination, claiming that preliminary information indicated the intended target was Moaz al-Manfoukh, since he was usually the one driving this car.
The HSC also condemned the killing, urging urgent justice, stronger national policies against violence toward women, tighter control of weapons, and citizen cooperation to safeguard security and social peace.
The tribes of Zawiyya al-Kubra and al-Qamada held the GNU and MoI Emad Trabelsi responsible for the killing of Khanasa al-Mujahid, demanding an urgent and transparent investigation. They warned that any delay would signal a collapse of state authority, vowing her blood would not be lost and stressing the duty to protect her young daughter while urging full enforcement of the law.
The Counter Security Threats Agency in Zawiyya mourned the murder of Moaz al-Manfoukh’s wife, affirming its wholehearted support for him.
On 23 November late in the evening, the First Support Force stated that they are ‘still waiting for the results of the investigations in the case of the martyr Khanasa al-Mujahid.’