Shells strike near Turkish, Italian embassies in central Tripoli, Libya

May 8, 2020

Shelling from rebel forces in Libya hit near the Turkish and Italian embassies late last night, Reuters reported. The embattled Tripoli government continues to hold on to the capital amid the rebel offensive and support for both sides from regional rivals in the region.

Libyan strongman Gen. Khalifa Hifter’s Libyan National Army (LNA) controls most of eastern Libya and made a renewed effort to take Tripoli in March. Hifter receives support from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Russia. Their opponent, the Government of National Accord (GNA), is recognized by the United Nations and receives support from Turkey. However, it only controls Tripoli and some other parts in the northwest. Libya has been in a state of conflict since the successful NATO-backed armed rebellion against longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

At the European Commission daily press briefing Friday, EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano said at least nine people have been killed in various attacks in Tripoli in the past two days.

The embassies are in a central district of Tripoli and the targeting of this area could be an expansion of Hifter’s offensive. A missile also struck next to the Turkish Embassy and shells hit Tripoli’s port, prompting the UN to cancel a mission to help rescued migrants at sea, according to Reuters.

Italy strongly condemned the shelling, which it said targeted civilians and killed two near the ambassador’s house.