Libya: Armed clashes erupt near Tripoli after failed assassination attempt on government commander

Heavy fighting erupted early Thursday, October 16, in the Libyan city of Zawiya, west of the capital Tripoli, following an assassination attempt on Mohamed Suleiman Al-Fitouri, commander of the Reserve Force under the internationally recognized Government of National Unity (GNU).

Al-Fitouri and his aide, Abdul Rahman, were critically injured after being shot by an armed group on the coastal road, sparking violent confrontations among rival factions reportedly aligned with the same Government. The clashes caused panic among residents, led to school closures, and brought major roads to a standstill, as the GNU remained silent on the unfolding violence.

According to media reports, Al-Fitouri, who also heads the Stability Support Agency in Zawiya, was rushed to intensive care, while the identities of his assailants remain unknown.

The latest violence underscores the deepening chaos and rivalry among security groups within western Libya, where power struggles and targeted killings have intensified. The continuing instability reflects the broader national divide between Libya’s two competing administrations — the Tripoli-based GNU led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and the eastern government under Osama Hammad — which has left the country without a unified authority capable of restoring lasting peace and order.