Clashes break out between al-Far and Trabelsi forces in western Tripoli

Jan 21, 2025 | Libyan actors

There have been clashes in western Tripoli this week amid apparent tensions between Government of National Unity (GNU) Minister of Interior (MoI) Emad Trabelsi and Muhammed Bahroun (aka al-Far).

On 21 January, GNU MoI Trabelsi gave a speech during a graduation ceremony for a class of policemen in which he pledged to end the chaos in Tripoli and the western region within three months, even if the Ministry paid a blood toll of 10 thousand policemen in exchange for restoring the prestige of the state.

On 22 January in the morning, fighting broke out between al-Far’s First Support Force and the Zintani-led Public Security Agency in Arab Maghreb Tourist Village (formerly known as the Regatta Tourist Vil-lage or as Regatta Club) in al-Seyaheyya in western Tripoli, north of the Roundabout at the end of the 2nd Ring Road. Both sides used heavy infantry weapons in the fighting. Several houses were damaged. Altogether, three fighters were killed and seven injured. There were no civilians reported among the casualties.

On 22 January in the evening, Minister of Interior (MoI) Emad Trabelsi said that the Regatta Tourist Village has been evacuated by the armed groups based there, in accordance with the Tripoli Security arrangement brokered by the MoI last year, and has been handed over to its administration, the Inma Fund Company. He said that after the fighting broke out, he himself moved to the area and, after a brief assessment, ordered a joint security force comprising the Tripoli Security Directorate, the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA), the Special Operations Force, and other security forces to take over the Tourist Village under his direct supervision. The MoI also informed the Attorney General to ensure that the operation proceeded legally. Subsequently the Regatta Tourist Village will be handed back to its owners.

The Attorney General ordered, at the request of the MoI, the evacuation of all armed groups from the Regatta Tourist Village.

On 23 January in the morning, Trabelsi’s joint force had taken over security of the whole of Regatta village.

In the late afternoon of the same day, the First Support Force and the Public Security Agency assembled more troops in the vicinity of Regatta. Some minor skirmishes between them occurred. Subsequently, the SSA also deployed reinforcements to this area.

On 23 January in the evening, in a meeting led by Ibrahim Dabaiba (the nephew and advisor of PM Abdul Hameed Dabaiba) in his house in Hay Andalus, an agreement between the First Support Force and the Public Security Agency was reached. The First Support Force returned with its troops to Zawiyya and the Public Security Agency returned to its bases in western Tripoli.