The Ministry of Home Affairs urged residents to stay home and avoid exercise, warning of further instability.
The UN calls for an emergency downgrade in the Libyan capital Tripoli as rival pistols exchanged fires in the southern part of the city after killing a powerful militia leader, prompting authorities to impose emergency lockdown warnings.
According to local journalists, residents reported that explosions and explosions were heard from multiple communities at 9 p.m. local time (19:00 GMT).
Al Jazeera's Malik Traina said in a Libya Misrata report that security sources confirmed the killing of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, who was head of a powerful stable agency militia, widely known as "Gheniwa".
Then, gunfire and conflict consumed several parts of Dottori.
Al-Kikli, one of the capital's most influential militia leaders, has recently been involved in controversy with rival armed groups, including factions related to Misrata.
Traina said at least six people were injured, although it was unclear whether they were members of the security forces or civilians.
"People are angry that whenever these armed groups clash, civilians get caught in the firefight," he continued, adding that residents demanded "accountability."
"When these groups fight and are killed, no one is responsible. Locals want justice and expect authorities to take responsibility for those behind the violence," he said.
In a statement earlier Tuesday in Libya (UNSMIL) said it was “shocked by the evolving security situation in Tripoli, with fierce battles against heavy weapons in densely populated civilian areas”.
Unsmil added that it "calls all parties to stop fighting immediately and restore peace and reminds all parties to always have a duty to protect civilians".
Unsmil's security in Tripoli is shocking, with heavy weapons fighting fiercely in densely populated civilian areas.
The mission calls on all parties to immediately stop fighting and restore peace and reminds all parties about... pic.twitter.com/sz8okgz1p8- Unsmil (@unsmilibya) May 12, 2025
UNSMIL expressed support for local mediation efforts, especially those led by elders and community leaders, highlighting the need to protect civilians amid increasing tensions.
The Ministry of Home Affairs urges residents to stay at home, avoid exercise, and warn of further instability. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education suspended classes across Tripoli on Tuesday, citing worsening safety conditions.
Libya's social media platforms are flooded with videos and images showing gunfire, rising feathers of black smoke, armed men on the streets, and convoys entering the city.
Al Jazeera's SANAD fact-checking agency verified footage captures the sound of medium-sized gunfire in several communities, including areas known to stabilize support for the agency's militia activities.
Several regions have seen what local sources call "suspicious military exercises" and convoys arrive from Az-Zawiyah, Zintan and Misrata - many are seen by many as preparations for possible showdowns in the capital.
The country fell into chaos after revoking and killing Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. For most of the past decade, the oil-rich country has been ruled in rival governments in eastern and western Libya, each with numerous fighter jets and foreign governments.