7 killed in clashes between Libya Dawn and Haftar forces

Severe clashes erupted yesterday between Libya Dawn forces, affiliate to the Tripoli government, and militants affiliated to renegade General Khalifa Haftar, who controls Tobruk in the east of the country, Almesryoon.com reported.

The clashes, which took place in Al-Towaiba neighbourhood, west of Tripoli, caused the death of seven militants from the forces affiliating to Haftar.

Colonel Abdul-Razzaq Al-Kharmani from the Al-Zawiya Operating Room told AFP that the two sides of the clashes were his “army” and the “tribal army” affiliated with Haftar.

Al-Zawiya Operation Room is a military service affiliate to Libya Dawn. It includes major armed groups in Al-Zawiya, west of Tripoli. Meanwhile, the tribal army is a mix of armed groups affiliated to Haftar.

“The clashes erupted,” Al-Karamani said, “when the tribal army stormed Al-Towaiba in the morning and attempted to set houses on fire. However, our forces stopped them, destroyed a tank and seized another, which included the seven people who were killed.”

The assault was revenge following the death of one of the tribes’ members, he explained.

A year ago, a truce was reached between the two sides in Al-Towaiba after “bloody clashes” as the tribal army worked to move towards Tripoli.