Despite another week of intense clashes and airstrikes, there have been no notable territorial changes along the southern Tripoli frontlines. However, on 6 October, fierce fighting occurred on al-Khalat Street as the Libyan National Army’s (LNA) 128 Infantry Battalion claimed control of the al-Wadi building. The also LNA claimed to have made advances along Airport Road as they push towards Aziziyah and Swani.Airstrikes continue to dominate reporting, with civilian casualties on the rise. On 6 October, aerial attacks injured civilians at the Equestrian Club in Tripoli’s western suburb of Janzour, leading to widespread international condemnation. On 7 October, paramedic Dr Samir Sibai was killed by an air strike at a field hospital in southern Tripoli.The overall military stalemate in southern Tripoli is likely to remain in place in the short term. The LNA’s aerial targeting of locations deeper into central Tripoli is likely to continue given the ongoing stalemate on the frontlines in southern Tripoli. This increases the risk of collateral damage and deaths in residential areas, as well as displacement of residents from central Tripoli. It also makes it more likely that the LNA will start to target more political targets, such as institutional headquarters.
LNA airstrikes and clashes continue in Tripoli but stalemate persists