Late on 3 August, clashes broke out in Surman between rival armed groups.
On 4 August, fighting continued in the morning in several areas, including the coastal road between the municipal traffic light and the Reform and Rehabilitation Institution, as well as the Al-Mahajib area behind the security directorate, the vicinity of the feed factory, and Sanur Island south of the city.
During the fighting, there was a mass escape from the Surman prison. At least 30 detainees are reported to have escaped. The Tripoli-based Judicial Police confirmed that the mass escape happened at Surman jail and that it had launched an investigation into the incident. It did not say how many detainees had escaped.
The mayor of Surman, Mohamed Abu Snina, described the humanitarian situation as very bad and said the clashes had caused serious damage, stressing that relative calm had returned to the city after the deployment of a neutral force.
The Western Coastal Military Region said the army’s acting chief of staff, Lieutenant General Salah al-Din al-Namroush has ordered a force to be deployed to Surman tasked with securing the city and protecting the local prison, as part of efforts to restore stability and bring the situation under control. Officials added that the move would coincide with the withdrawal of armed groups from inside the city, in a step aimed at reinforcing state authority, safeguarding vital facilities and enabling regular forces to assume security responsibilities.