And the outgoing government in Tripoli said it had carried out airstrikes targeting fuel, drug and people smugglers in Zawiya, according to Libya’s ‘WAL’ news agency, as citizens in the city feared the target either to “settle accounts”. between opponents.
According to sources reported to “Sky News Arabia”, the attack targeted the headquarters of the Passport Authority, the police station in the Abu Surra region and concentrations of forces affiliated with “Hassan Abu Zaribah”, which supports the government appointed by the House of Representatives, in addition to a site in the Al-Sayyidah Zainab neighborhood in Al-Mayah, east of the city, and other locations in Al-Mutard and Al-Harsha .
Government statement
A statement from the Dabaiba government’s Ministry of Defense said: “The National Air Force conducted precise and targeted airstrikes today, Thursday, against the hideouts of the gangs smuggling fuel, smuggling drug and human trafficking in the west coast region. ”
“The strikes were successful and achieved the desired objectives,” he added.
Since late April, the city has seen civil protests, led by the “Correction of Course” movement against the security chaos it is experiencing due to the proliferation of militias and foreign mercenaries, which has led to high rates of killings, kidnappings , fuel smuggling and illegal immigrants.
settling scores
The “Correction of the Path” movement in Zawiya rushed to issue a statement, disavowing what it saw as an attempt by some to exploit its protests against lawlessness and corruption in security to launch battles for “settle accounts”, in which he declared:
• The movement is civil, reformist and service-oriented, and has nothing to do with “political tendencies or settling of scores” or military operations.
• We seek to hold outlaws accountable, restore stability and security to the city, fight crime, and refuse to start wars around the corner or drag them into conflicts that cause them more harm. damage.
• The operation that is taking place immediately (aerial bombardment) was not carried out in coordination with the “Committee of 15” composed of activists and local notables with the start of the demonstrations, and its function is to communicate with the authorities in Tripoli to negotiate the city’s claims.
• The movement does not see in this process that its objective is to achieve the security objectives of the people of Zawiya, but it has “other objectives”, referring to the attempt to eliminate political opponents.
the exploitation of the movement
The clarification of the movement comes to try to avoid its “political exploitation” by any party, but this is already what has happened since the start of the strikes today, as indicated by the Zawiya activist , Bashir Abdullah.
The strikes targeted several groups, even in Warshafana, near Zawiya, claiming support for the parliament-appointed government, according to Bashir, as part of a settling of scores and the elimination of any force that does not support the outgoing government.
Zawiya activist Imad Buawiya also agrees with him, saying: “Abdul Hamid al-Dabaiba’s government took advantage of the popular movement to strike at political opponents in the city, after the case escaped during the last period in the absence of a justification to start a new conflict.
Bouawiya fears that “events will turn into an all-out war in the city to get rid of opponents”.
It comes as sources speak of preparations by outgoing government forces to carry out an operation in the city, under the guise of “cleansing it of criminal elements”.
Since March 2022, Libya has been experiencing what is known as the “crisis of the two governments”; Where Parliament appointed a government led by Fathi Bashagha, while the outgoing government refused to hand over power except after elections were held, for which no specific date was agreed by all.
From time to time, armed groups loyal to this or that government clash for the control and survival of certain towns in the west of the country.
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