On 5 June, fighting with heavy infantry weapons erupted in Sabratha between local militias of the Dabbashi clan on one side and the (Zawiyya) First Support Force of Muhammed Bahroun aka al Far and the National Support Force on the other side.
At least three people were killed in the clashes. Several more were injured. A number of migrants were forced to flee from their camps. The Sabratha Municipal Council and the Security Directorate managed to get in touch with all the warring factions and succeeded in de-escalating the situation and in mediating a ceasefire.
On 6 June, on the morning of Eid al-Adha, heavy fighting, also with armoured vehicles, broke out again and continued with some breaks throughout the day in several parts of the city. The Sabratha branch of the Libyan Red Crescent urgently appealed to residents to shelter indoors and avoid conflict, while cautioning all armed factions that civilian safety is paramount. In total, as a result of the clashes on 5 and 6 June, eight people were killed and more than ten injured.
In the evening, PM Abdul Hameed Dabaiba instructed West Coast Military District Commander and Libyan Army Deputy Chief of Staff Salaheddin al-Namroush to investigate the clashes in Sabratha and to secure the city with his troops. Dabaiba emphasized that he will not cooperate with any party that threatens security. The law will apply to everyone.
On 7 June, after midnight, young people from Sabratha protested against the conditions in the city, including the presence of militias and looting. They blocked the eastern entrance to the city and demanded the exit of all militias from outside of the city. Subsequently, most of the Zawiyyan militias left Sabratha.
At least one young man was killed and another wounded when they chased the militias of al-Far out of the city. The total death toll from the clashes in Sabratha rose to at least ten. More than 20 people were injured.
On 7 June in the morning, the situation in Sabratha was relatively calm. In the afternoon, advance parties of the Libyan Army’s 33rd Special Operations Battalion arrived in the city to prevent renewed fighting and to maintain security in the city. Al-Namroush asked the Military Prosecutor General to task the Military Prosecution Office in the Western Region to conduct the required investigations.
In the evening of 7 June and on 8 June, the bulk of the 33rd Battalion, about 300 to 400 troops, reached Sabratha and took over security duties. The situation remained calm. At the time of writing on 10 June, the situation remained calm.