Two armed factions facing each other that operate along the strategic coastal road that connects Zauiya and Surman, in the northwest of Libya, have engaged this Tuesday in intense fighting since early in the day, plunging the area into a serious situation of chaos and insecurity.
In light of the escalation of violence, the municipal authorities of Zauiya and Surman have asked the population not to leave their homes and have interrupted activities in several institutions in order to protect their employees. At the same time, the Libyan Red Crescent has activated its maximum alert level and has called for the opening of humanitarian corridors to allow the passage of ambulances, as reported by the news agency LANA.
In the midst of the clashes between the militias, there has also been an escape of several detainees from a detention center located in Surman, which has led the Judicial Police to initiate an investigation and to coordinate with the competent military and security authorities to proceed with the identification of the escaped prisoners.
Local sources indicate that there would be multiple fatalities as a result of the fighting — in which both light and heavy weaponry would have been used — although, for now, Libyan authorities have not released any official figures on casualties.
The affected road constitutes the main land artery of the west of the country, as it links the capital, Tripoli, with the border with Tunisia. In Zauiya, there is also a highly relevant oil refinery, which has requested its staff to avoid the areas and routes where the confrontations are taking place.