CAIRO (AP) — The death toll in this week’s clashes between rival militias in Libya’s capital rose to 45 on Wednesday as troops fanned out across Tripoli to restore calm after a 24-hour bout of fighting that was the city’s most intense violence this year. The clashes erupted late on Monday between militiamen from the 444 brigade and the Special Deterrence Force, and continued into Tuesday evening. Tensions flared after Mahmoud Hamza, a senior commander of the 444 brigade, was allegedly detained by the rival group at an airport in Tripoli, according to local media reports. Last August, clashes between two other militia active in the capital killed at least 23 people. “No progress whatsoever was made on those fronts.”The 444 brigade and the Special Deterrence Force are two of the largest militias operating in Tripoli.

Clashes between rival militias in Libya’s capital killed at least 27 people and left residents trapped in their homes Tuesday, unable to escape the violence, medical authorities said. In addition to the 27 deaths, more than 100 people were injured in the fighting, Libya’s Emergency Medicine and Support Center, a medical body deployed during humanitarian disasters and wars, said early Wednesday. The clashes erupted late Monday between militiamen from the 444 brigade and the Special Deterrence Force, according to local media. The escalation follows months of relative peace after nearly a decade of civil war in Libya, where two rival sets of authorities are locked in a political stalemate. AdvertisementBoth of Libya’s rival administrations condemned the fighting in separate statements Tuesday.

By Hamdi Alkhshali and Ruba Alhenawi, CNN(CNN) — At least 55 people were killed and 146 others injured when clashes broke out between two powerful armed factions in the southern Libyan capital of Tripoli, emergency services spokesman Malik Marseet told local media outlets on Wednesday. He was apprehended by a rival faction, the Special Deterrence Force, which controls the airport. The clashes ceased late on Tuesday following an agreement reached with the UN-recognized Government of National Unity to transfer Hamza to a neutral party, as reported by state news agency LANA. The fighting is considered the most severe of this year with images showing smoke rising above the capital following the overnight battles. The Special Deterrence Force and the 444 Brigade are considered the strongest military forces in the Libyan capital, according to Reuters.

We don’t have to see anyone in person,” he told AFP over WhatsApp. “Every six months, we use the fighters’ rotation to send people with them,” the recruiter told AFP. Several Syrians told AFP that on their flights to Benghazi, direct or not, were many refugees bound for Europe. But the Deraa smuggler told AFP this was not a problem: “In Libya, like in Syria, paying off security officials can solve everything. Refugees told AFP a smuggler’s associate – sometimes a security officer – escorted them out of Benghazi’s Benina airport.

TRIPOLI (Reuters) -The casualty toll from clashes in Libya's capital Tripoli over Monday and Tuesday was 55 killed and 146 wounded, the emergency services said. Hamza had been seized by the Special Deterrence Force, which controls Mitiga airport, as he attempted to travel on Monday. Airlines that on Tuesday stopped using Mitiga airport, where some of the worst fighting took place, resumed flights on Wednesday, they said. As part of the deal announced by the elders, police and other security forces that stayed neutral in the clashes moved into areas where the fighting took place. (Reporting by Reuters Libya newsroom, writing by Angus McDowall, editing by Angus MacSwan)

Image used for representation only. QNADoha, Qatar: The State of Qatar expressed its deep concern over the developments in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, and called on all parties involved to avoid escalation, exercise maximum restraint, heed the voice of reason, pursue dialogue to overcome differences, and spare civilians the consequences of the fighting. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Qatar’s full support for the efforts made by United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to achieve peace and stability in the country. The Ministry also renewed Qatar’s full support for the Libyan political track, the relevant Security Council resolutions, and all peaceful solutions that preserve Libya’s unity, stability and sovereignty, and achieve the aspirations of its brotherly people for development and prosperity.

TRIPOLI: Gun battles between the two leading armed groups in Tripoli killed two people and forced the closure of the Libyan capital’s only civilian airport, officials said on Tuesday. A period of relative stability had led the United Nations to express hope for delayed elections to take place this year, and the latest fighting triggered international calls for calm. In May, the two sides had clashed for hours in Tripoli, also after the arrest of a 444 Brigade member. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya said in a statement it was “following with concern” the security deterioration in the Libyan capital and its impact on civilians. The embassies of the United States, United Kingdom, France and the European Union echoed the UN call for de-escalation.

We don't have to see anyone in person," he told AFP over WhatsApp. Syria to Libya to the EU © Jihad KACHAAMI / AFP"People are selling their homes and leaving." "Every six months, we use the fighters' rotation to send people with them," the recruiter told AFP. But the Daraa smuggler told AFP this was not a problem: "In Libya, like in Syria, paying off security officials can solve everything." Migrants told AFP a smuggler's associate -- sometimes a security officer -- escorted them out of Benghazi's Benina airport.

(CNN) — At least 27 people were killed and 106 others injured when clashes broke out between two powerful armed factions in the southern Libyan capital of Tripoli, the country’s emergency services said in a statement Tuesday. He was apprehended by a rival faction, the Special Deterrence Force, which controls the airport. The clashes ceased late on Tuesday following an agreement reached with the UN-recognized Government of National Unity to transfer Hamza to a neutral party, as reported by state news agency LANA. The fighting is considered the most severe of this year with images showing smoke rising above the capital following the overnight battles. The Special Deterrence Force and the 444 Brigade are considered the strongest military forces in the Libyan capital, according to Reuters.

According to local media, fighting broke out between the 444 brigade and the Special Deterrence Force late on Monday evening. OPSGroup, an organisation for the aviation industry, said late on Monday that a large number of aircraft departed the capital due to the clashes. Inbound flights were diverting to the nearby city of Misrata, it said. Longstanding divisions have sparked several incidents of violence in Tripoli in recent years, although most have been over in a matter of hours. The U.S. and British embassies in Libya both issued online statements expressing their concerns about the escalating violence around Tripoli.

Two powerful armed factions battled in Libya's capital on Tuesday in the city's worst violence this year, but one side released a detained commander from the other, two sources said, raising hopes for an end to the deadly clashes. The Special Deterrence Force and the 444 Brigade are two of the strongest military forces in Tripoli and their fighting from late on Monday rocked districts across the capital. The fighting began after the Special Deterrence Force, which controls Tripoli's main Mitiga airport detained 444 Brigade commander Mahmoud Hamza as he attempted to travel. Sporadic fighting has also this year rocked the city of Zawiya, west of the capital. Hamza, a former officer in the Special Deterrence Force, has previously been a key figure in mediating an end to tension between other armed factions.

TodayPartly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.

The Special Deterrence Force and the 444 Brigade are two of the strongest military forces in Tripoli and their fighting from late on Monday rocked districts across the capital. The fighting began after the Special Deterrence Force, which controls Tripoli's main Mitiga airport, detained 444 Brigade commander Mahmoud Hamza as he attempted to travel. However, there has been little progress towards a lasting political solution to the conflict and on the ground armed factions that have gained official status and financing continue to wield power. Hamza, a former officer in the Special Deterrence Force, has previously been a key figure in mediating an end to tension between other armed factions. Hamza was handed to the Stabilisation Support Apparatus upon his release, a Special Deterrence Force source and local media said.

CAIRO (AP) — Deadly clashes between rival militias in Libya’s capital killed at least 27 people and left residents trapped in their homes on Tuesday, unable to escape the violence, medical authorities said. There were at least four people dead but it was not immediately clear if they were militiamen or civilians, an official said. The clashes erupted late on Monday between militiamen from the 444 brigade and the Special Deterrence Force, according to local media reports. Over 100 people were injured in the fighting, Libya’s Emergency Medicine and Support Center, a medical body that is deployed during humanitarian disasters and wars, said early Wednesday. Both of Libya’s rival administrations also condemned the fighting in separate statements Tuesday.

Clashes erupt amid sounds of gunfire in Libya’s Tripoli, residents say, after armed faction leader reportedly detained. Clashes have broken out in the Libyan capital Tripoli, residents said, after the reported seizure of a powerful armed faction commander by a rival force. Any sustained fighting between the two factions, the most powerful in the capital after a period of military consolidation, could pose significant risks. Monday’s clashes are already the worst to hit Tripoli for months, though there has been sporadic violence between armed factions in some other parts of northwest Libya in recent weeks. Reuters news agency reported armed men had closed a major road in the Ain Zara district, near where the clashes were taking place.