Sources from the city of Sabratha have stated that a truce reached in the city on Tuesday has been broken due to renewed clashes in the city center on Wednesday night.
The clashes broke out Sunday between recently-formed ISIS Fighting Operation Room (IFOR) and the 48th Battalion after the killing of one of the members of the latter at a checkpoint for the IFOR.
Both armed factions are associated with the Ministry of Defense of Tripoli-based Presidential Council.
A spokesman for the 48th Battalion said the IFOR violated the ceasefire agreement Wednesday night, adding that IFOR fighters started the gunfire without any response from their part in respect to the ceasefire.
The spokesman explained that the ceasefire agreement was designed to evacuate any families trapped in the areas of clashes, accusing the IFOR of allegiance to Dignity Operation forces who are attempting to control Sabratha in favour of Khalifa Haftar.
Well-informed military sources said the IFOR is made up of a group of former army officers, local fighters and many Salafists known as Madkhalis.
The 48th Battalion, a.k.a Martyr Anas Dibbashi Brigade, is led by Ahmed Dibbashi, nicknamed “Ammo”. There were claims that the Italian government had paid this brigade millions of euros in order to stop illegal immigration from Sabratha shores, a charge the brigade has totally denied.
The IFOR accuses fighters of the 48th Battalion of being a group of criminals and terrorists. On the other hand, activists have accused the IFOR of hiring fighters from other towns after the notorious commander from Zintan, Abdulmonem Barq Al-Nasir, posted photos of his brigade from inside Sabratha, saying they are there to fight “terrorism”.
Meanwhile, the head of the Libyan Red Crescent’s Information Office, Sabratha Branch, Mohammad Arhumah, said on Wednesday that approximately thirty families from the areas of clashes along with a number of foreign workers have been evacuated to safer places.
Arhumah also pointed out that clashes have resumed in the city after a short period of calm.
