Tripoli: The Libyan capital, Tripoli, witnessed an escalation in armed clashes for the second consecutive night between forces affiliated with the “Government of National Unity” and members of the “Deterrence Force for Combating Crime and Terrorism,” amid local and international warnings of serious repercussions for civilians and social peace.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, eyewitnesses reported that the sounds of gunfire and explosions continued since midnight on Tuesday, with a heavy deployment of Deterrence Forces in several areas of the capital, including Souq al-Juma and the vicinity of Mitiga Airport.

Due to the security tensions, flights from Mitiga International Airport were diverted to Misrata Airport, according to flight tracking platforms.

In a field development, the Libyan Red Crescent Society, Tripoli branch, announced a state of maximum alert, calling on citizens to exercise caution and adhere to official instructions for their safety.

Amid the fighting, the Judicial Police announced that the clashes near Al-Jadidah Prison led to chaos and panic, confirming that a number of prisoners, most of them serving long sentences, had escaped.

For its part, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) expressed its “deep concern” over the escalating violence in densely populated residential neighborhoods, stressing in a statement on its official website the need for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

The mission explained that the continued fighting endangers the lives of civilians and threatens the fragile stability in the capital, affirming its readiness to offer mediation efforts to calm the situation and support dialogue efforts.