Libya’s Tobruk Witnesses Bloody Tribal Clashes

Libyan security authorities in the east announced that they have restored calm after the eruption of rare tribal clashes in the city of Tobruk.

Medium and heavy weapons were used in the fighting that left two people dead and several wounded, revealed security sources.

The clash centered on a dispute between two families over the position of director of social security. They had vied for the post after the sacked director sought to regain his post from his replacement.

The Interior Ministry in the east-based interim government said Thursday that calm has been restored.

The security directorate, in cooperation with the Libyan National Army (LNA) that is commanded by Khalifa Haftar, managed to contain the situation with the help of tribal elders.

Military forces managed to regain control over the social security branch headquarters in Tobruk.

Politicians said the development embarrassed the east-based authorities both politically and in the media, especially the LNA that has held the area since 2014. The region rarely ever witnesses tribal tensions.