Mediation is under way to dissuade Dbeibah from steps that could trigger confrontation in Tripoli, with both domestic and international actors pressing him to exercise restraint.
National and international efforts intensified on Sunday to prevent western Libya, and Tripoli in particular, from sliding back into violence amid mounting militia activity and military build-ups around the capital.
President of the Libyan Presidential Council Mohamed al-Menfi met members of the 5+5 Joint Military Committee representing western Libya to review recent security and military developments. His office said the discussions focused on de-escalation measures aimed at reinforcing stability, extending the nationwide ceasefire and preserving prospects for political dialogue.
Well-informed sources said last-minute mediation was under way to dissuade Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah from steps that could trigger confrontation in Tripoli, with both domestic and international actors pressing him to exercise restraint.
Menfi also received a delegation of elders and notables from the western coastal region near Tripoli, where talks centred on the fragile security situation and ways to avert a return to armed conflict. The meeting underscored the Presidential Council’s role in coordinating with the UN mission in Libya to defuse tensions and shield the capital from renewed fighting.
The elders said they supported stabilisation measures and reaffirmed their backing for the ceasefire, stressing the need for restraint from all parties. Their message came just days after the UN Security Council reiterated that those responsible for attacks on civilians or attempts to derail peace efforts would be held accountable.
The Presidential Council’s security and military arrangements committee said it was closely monitoring recent deployments in Tripoli and beyond, reaffirming its mandate to consolidate stability under the authority of the supreme commander of the Libyan army (Menfi as president of the Presidential Council). It warned that unauthorised movements outside official frameworks constituted serious violations of existing agreements and laws.
The committee urged all armed units to return to their designated bases, refrain from unilateral actions and uphold ceasefire obligations, describing them as essential to protecting civilians and sustaining the political process. It added that coordination with the general staff and security services was continuing to confront any threats to national unity or civil peace.
Tensions have also been heightened by the stand-off between the Government of National Unity led by Dbeibah and the Special Deterrence Force (SDF), an armed group under the Presidential Council. The SDF is currently allied with the powerful Rada group of Abdulrauf Kara which controls sensitive facilities in Tripoli, including Mitiga prison and airport. The government has demanded these be handed over to state authorities.
Deputy Defence Minister Abdulsalam al-Zoubi said on Sunday the Special Deterrence Force had agreed in principle to government conditions aimed at containing tensions, though he noted that a similar accord last August was never implemented, raising doubts about the group’s commitment. He said the new agreement should be fully implemented within 24 hours of ratification, warning that any obstruction would be met with decisive military action.
On the ground, the 444th Combat Brigade deployed units to al-Shweirf in south-west Libya, supported by helicopters and electronic surveillance, in an operation designed to track suspicious activity near ceasefire lines. The defence ministry has authorised direct strikes against unauthorised movements in the area.
Meanwhile, the 166th Brigade advanced from Misrata towards Tripoli with tanks and armoured vehicles, alarming residents amid the absence of clear explanations from the authorities. At the same time, the 112th Infantry Battalion also began moving towards the capital on orders from the defence ministry.
The escalation prompted the Social Council of western Libya to call on residents and armed groups to prepare to defend the capital, warning that those seeking to ignite conflict would bear full responsibility for any bloodshed.
The rising tensions highlight Libya’s deep institutional divisions, fragile security architecture and the risk that unresolved rivalries between government structures and powerful armed groups could once again plunge Tripoli into open confrontation.
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