An attack by the Misrata-led Joint Operations Force against the Stability Support Agency (SSA) in Khoms early in the week increased tensions between the SSA and Misratan armed groups in Tripoli and Khoms.
On 7 May in the evening, in the course of some heavy fighting, the (pro-Dabaiba) Misrata Joint Force stormed the HQ of the local SSA in Khoms. Several vehicles, weapons and ammunition were seized. A number of SSA members were detained. The Joint Operations Force was supported by the 111th Brigade, which is led by Deputy Minister of Defense for Regions and Military Affairs Abdussalam Zoubi (also a Misratan).
The Khoms Security Directorate blamed ‘an armed group affiliated with the Misrata Joint force’ for carrying out an armed attack on the SSA HQ in Khoms. They caused panic among the local population by firing with heavy infantry weapons in residential areas.
This reportedly follows an attack on 5 May by the SSA in Tripoli on the headquarters of the Libyan Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology Company (LPTIC) in Tripoli. The LPTIC chairman Salahadeen al-Najih and a board member Yousef Abu Zwayda (a Misratan) were kidnapped, but released a couple of hours later. In the course of this attack, five people from Misrata were shot. The Special Deterrence Force (Rada), which is responsible for the protection of the LPTIC HQ, did not intervene.
On 8 May, a group of youth protested in front of the ‘Intervention and Control Force’ in Khoms. They blamed them for supporting the attack of the Misrata on the SSA HQ in the city. A vehicle belonging to this militia was set aflame.
On 9 May, some heavy fighting took place in Khoms between the SSA and the 112th (Misrata) Brigade, the ‘Marinda Force’, which is affiliated with the Joint Operations Force. The SSA mobilized troops in Tripoli and sent them to Khoms.
On 10 May, the ‘Marinda Force’ carried out arrest campaigns in several neighbourhoods of Khoms.