Libya's Fragile Peace Tested Again As New Clashes Roil Tripoli
15 May 2025
Clashes broke out earlier in the week across several districts of the Libyan capital, reportedly triggered by the killing of a prominent militia leader.
The fighting, which involved heavy weaponry in densely populated areas, forced hundreds of families to flee and placed severe strain on local hospitals.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged all parties to take urgent steps to consolidate the ceasefire announced on Wednesday.
'The rapid nature of the escalation, which drew armed groups from outside the city and subjected heavily populated neighbourhoods to heavy artillery fire, was alarming,' his spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday.
' The Secretary-General reminds all parties of their obligation to protect civilians and calls on them to engage in serious dialogue in good faith to address the root causes of the conflict.'
Alarms raised
The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) issued successive warnings throughout the week, calling the situation 'deeply alarming' and urging an 'immediate, unconditional ceasefire.'
'Attacking and damaging civilian infrastructure, physically harming civilians, and jeopardizing the lives and safety of the population may constitute crimes under international law,' the mission said on Wednesday, praising mediation efforts by elders and civil society leaders.
Years of fragmentation
Nearly 15 years after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi and the emergence of rival administrations in 2014, the country remains divided, with the internationally recognised Government of National Unity (GNU) based in Tripoli in the northwest and the Government of National Stability (GNS) in Benghazi in the east.
Competition over Libya's vast oil wealth further complicates the situation. Though the country produces more than a million barrels a day, the living conditions of ordinary Libyans have seen little improvement.
Accountability for atrocities
In New York on Thursday the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that its investigation into alleged war crimes in Libya has entered a new phase, following increased cooperation by authorities there.
Briefing the UN Security Council from The Hague, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan described ' an unprecedented six months of dynamism,' citing the January arrest of Osama Elmasry Najim, a commander in the now-dissolved Special Deterrence Force (RADA), and his controversial return to Libya.
Mr. Khan briefed Ambassadors via videolink after the United States imposed punitive sanctions on the court including senior personnel, which threaten the prosecutor and others with arrest if they travel to the US. The US made the order in response to the ICC issuing arrest warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister and former defence minister, last November.
Mr. Najim was arrested by Italian authorities based on an ICC warrant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to abuses at Metiga Prison.
However, his return was a matter of deep concern, said Mr. Khan.
New 'rule of law' promises accountability
' There was real dismay and disappointment among victims that Mr. Njeem was returned to the scene of the alleged crimes,' Mr. Khan said.
Despite that setback, he said that the arrest warrant had sent 'shockwaves' through Libyan militias and alleged perpetrators in Libya, signalling a growing awareness that 'the rule of law has entered the territory of Libya.'
He confirmed that more arrest warrants are being pursued, and that the ICC has responded to a request for assistance from the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom as part of its own investigation into Mr. Njeem.
' There is a black box of suffering in Libya,' he told ambassadors. 'We will manage to break it open.'
Libya grants ICC jurisdiction
In another major development, Libya formally submitted a declaration to the ICC under Article 12(3) of the Rome Statute, granting the court jurisdiction over crimes committed on Libyan soil from 2011 to 2027.
Mr. Khan described this as a 'new chapter' in accountability efforts and confirmed that the investigation phase is expected to conclude by early 2026.
About the ICC
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an independent judicial body established under the Rome Statute, adopted in 1998 and in force since 2002.
Although not part of the United Nations, the ICC works closely with it under a cooperative framework. The situation in Libya was first referred to the ICC by the UN Security Council in 2011 through resolution 1970.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
37 minutes ago
- Scoop
DAWN Statement On The Trump Administration's War On Iran
In response to U.S. airstrikes inside Iran ordered by President Trump, DAWN issued the following statements: 'Trump's unprovoked and unauthorized attacks on Iran not only violate international law but the U.S. Constitution, which grants only Congress the right to declare war,' said Sarah Leah Whitson, DAWN's Executive Director. 'Trump has recklessly launched a war that harms American interests in service of Israeli demands, and broken his promise to the American people to put America first.' 'President Trump's actions will most likely lead to retaliation from Iran that puts American troops and citizens across the Middle East in harm's way,' said Raed Jarrar, DAWN's Advocacy Director. 'Congress should immediately pass a War Powers Resolution to prohibit further U.S. military involvement, even in the event of retaliation. We need de-escalation, not more bombs.' 'Trump has completely folded to Netanyahu, dragging the U.S. into a war that undermines American interests,' said Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, Israel-Palestine Director at DAWN. 'The UN General Assembly should immediately pass a 'Uniting for Peace' resolution to hold both Israel and the U.S. accountable and demand an end to this regime-change campaign.'
Otago Daily Times
an hour ago
- Otago Daily Times
'I'm so scared': Iranian in NZ fears 'a bigger war'
Smoke rises following an Israeli attack in Tehran, Iran, earlier this month. Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS An Iranian in New Zealand has been plagued by stress as the conflict between Iran and Israel escalates. Although most of Elham Salari's family had fled from Tehran to the south of Iran, she worried about those who had stayed behind. "It's like a feeling that your body is in a safe place, but your mind is not. It's like a detachment between the body and soul," she said. President Donald Trump announced that the United States has completed a "very successful attack" on nuclear sites in Iran - including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan - on Sunday. "I'm so scared. I'm so stressed... all I'm thinking is 'What's going to happen next?' Trump said he wants peace... but Iran's regime will not let it go easily. There will be a bigger war. It's going to destroy our country and our people are going to die." Salari added it had made her "extremely anxious" to only have limited contact with her family members. Iran's internet connectivity had been partially restored after the Iranian government significantly restricted internet access across the country earlier in the week to protect against Israeli cyberattacks. Salari said she had woken up to messages from her family earlier on Sunday who confirmed they were safe, but she had not been able to get back in contact with them since. "The internet comes a little bit, you get to hear about them, and then it's gone again, so that's also adding to the anxiety, because you can't hear from them... it feels like this silence is more worrying."
Otago Daily Times
an hour ago
- Otago Daily Times
Trump says key Iran nuclear sites 'obliterated' by strikes
US forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites in a "very successful attack," President Donald Trump said on Saturday (local time), adding that Tehran's nuclear programme had been "obliterated". After days of deliberation, Trump's decision to join Israel's military campaign against its major rival Iran represents a major escalation of the conflict. "The strikes were a spectacular military success," Trump said in a televised Oval Office address. "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated." In a speech that lasted just over three minutes, Trump said Iran's future held "either peace or tragedy," and that there were many other targets that could be hit by the US military. "If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill." The US reached out to Iran diplomatically on Saturday to say the strikes were all the US planned, and it did not aim for regime change, CBS News reported. Trump said US forces struck Iran's three principal nuclear sites: Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow. He told Fox News six bunker-buster bombs were dropped on Fordow, while 30 Tomahawk missiles were fired against other nuclear sites. U.S. B-2 bombers were involved in the strikes, a U.S. official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. "A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow," Trump posted. "Fordow is gone." "IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR," he added. Reuters had reported earlier on Saturday the movement of the bombers, which can be equipped to carry massive bombs that experts say would be needed to strike Fordow, which is buried under a mountain. An Iranian official, cited by Tasnim news agency, confirmed that part of the Fordow site was attacked by "enemy airstrikes." "History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime the world's most dangerous weapons," Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a video message. "His leadership today has created a pivot of history that can help lead the Middle East and… — Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) June 22, 2025 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on his "bold decision" which he said will change history. "History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime, the world's most dangerous weapons," Netanyahu said. The strikes came as Israel and Iran have been engaged in more than a week of aerial combat that has resulted in deaths and injuries in both countries. Israel launched the attacks on Iran saying that it wanted to remove any chance of Tehran developing nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only. Diplomatic efforts by Western nations to stop the hostilities have been unsuccessful. In recent days, Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans have argued that Trump must receive permission from the US Congress before committing the US military to any combat against Iran. Republican Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi applauded the operation but cautioned that the U.S. now faced "very serious choices ahead." Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, a Republican, said that despite the heavy US bombings over Iran, "This war is Israel's war, not our war." He added, "There will not be American boots on the ground in Iran." One Republican lawmaker, Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, simply said, "This is not constitutional." Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia said the US public "is overwhelmingly opposed to the US waging war on Iran" and accused Trump of displaying "horrible judgment". Israeli military officials said earlier on Saturday that they had completed another series of strikes in southwestern Iran, having targeted dozens of military targets. Israel launched attacks on June 13, saying Iran was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Israel is widely assumed to possess nuclear weapons, which it neither confirms nor denies. At least 430 people have been killed and 3500 injured in Iran since Israel began its attacks, Iranian state-run Nour News said, citing the health ministry. In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed by Iranian missile attacks, according to local authorities, in the worst conflict between the longtime enemies. More than 450 Iranian missiles have been fired towards Israel, according to the Israeli prime minister's office. Israeli officials said 1272 people have been injured since the beginning of the hostilities, with 14 in serious condition.
