The ceasefire collapse in Libya... Deadly clashes in Tripoli bring back the specter of war.

Violent clashes erupted at dawn on Monday between warring armed militias in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, bringing back scenes of security chaos to the forefront after weeks of relative calm following a fragile ceasefire that did not last long.

Local residents reported that the confrontations broke out between Special Deterrence Forces on one side, and General Security forces affiliated with the Ministry of Interior on the other side, in various areas of Tripoli, notably the Airport Road and Al-Furnaj Island, where intense gunfire was heard, and armored vehicles and military machinery were deployed, with some roads being closed.

The clashes coincided with the announcement by the Deterrence Forces of regaining some of their previous positions, leading to the withdrawal of conflict resolution and ceasefire maintenance forces from their positions, reflecting the fragility of security arrangements in the city.

The clashes also resulted in a fire breaking out at the Sidi Mneidir Cemetery, according to circulated videos on social media, amidst calls from residents for the relevant authorities to intervene quickly and send firefighting vehicles to prevent the spread of fire to neighboring areas.

This escalation comes amid escalating tensions within the capital Tripoli, following the assassination of the head of the Stability Support Apparatus, Abdelghani Al-Kikli, with the city witnessing military mobilizations and sporadic skirmishes for weeks.

Despite official statements pledging to end the security chaos, armed manifestations continue to dominate the scene.

The Government of National Unity led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, along with the Presidential Council led by Mohammed Menfi, announced an agreement last week to clear Tripoli of armed groups, in response to increasing popular demands to end the chaos and strengthen state authority.

However, recent developments have revealed the difficulty of imposing full security control, at a time when concerns are mounting about the situation escalating into broader confrontations between armed factions loyal to the Government of National Unity camp and those opposing it.