UN mission calls for de-escalation after militant group leader killed in Libya

Violence reported after Abdulghani “Ghaniwa” Kikli, SSA commander linked to Libya’s GNU, was killed in Abu Salim.

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WORLDWIDE:

Armed clashes broke out on Monday evening in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, after reports emerged that a senior militia leader had been killed, prompting a call for de-escalation from the United Nations.

Gunfire echoed through several neighbourhoods, including Abu Salim and Salah Eddin, as fighting intensified. Three residents told that they heard heavy shooting and saw flashes in the sky.

“I heard heavy gunfire, and I saw red lights in the sky,” one resident said on condition of anonymity.

The violence reportedly followed the killing of Abdulghani Kikli, known as "Ghaniwa", the commander of the Support Force Apparatus (SSA) — a powerful armed group based in Abu Salim.

SSA is affiliated with Libya’s Presidential Council and operates under the Government of National Unity (GNU), formed in 2021 through a UN-backed process

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said it was “alarmed by the unfolding security situation” involving heavy weaponry used in densely populated civilian areas.

In a post on X late Monday, the mission urged all sides to halt fighting immediately and warned that attacks on civilians “may amount to war crimes.”

The Government of National Unity’s (GNU) health ministry instructed hospitals to prepare for emergencies, while the interior ministry advised citizens to stay indoors for safety.

The University of Tripoli announced a suspension of all academic and administrative operations until further notice.

Libya has been divided between rival governments in the east and west since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

Despite a 2020 ceasefire, sporadic violence continues, often involving powerful militias vying for control of territory and energy assets.

UNSMIL reminded all factions of their responsibility to protect civilians and avoid targeting civilian infrastructure.

The flare-up comes as the Trump administration in the United States considers plans to deport migrants to Libya. Migrants were reportedly held for hours on a bus last week before being returned to a detention facility.

The White House declined to comment on the deportation plan.