Libya is witnessing a fresh wave of military escalation as Major General Mahmoud Hamza, head of military intelligence affiliated with the Libyan National Army (LNA), announced on Wednesday that a military operation in the capital, Tripoli, is set to begin soon. Hamza confirmed that all preparations are underway and that the security situation remains “fully under control.”
In a statement to Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency, the Military Intelligence Directorate declared that “the military operation in Tripoli will commence shortly, and everything is under control.”
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions across Tripoli, where neighborhoods have seen intermittent clashes and exchanges of fire between rival armed groups. The deteriorating security environment has prompted calls—both domestic and international—for an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians and prevent further escalation.
In a related development, a high-ranking Libyan military source reported on Wednesday that the main operations room of the LNA has issued orders to deploy reinforcements from Benghazi toward the strategic coastal city of Sirte. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, “Military convoys belonging to the Libyan National Army are currently en route from Benghazi to Sirte,” in a move that signals a possible escalation on the western front.
Sirte, located midway along Libya’s Mediterranean coast, has long held strategic importance in the country’s conflict. It serves as a vital corridor between eastern and western Libya and has frequently been a focal point in battles between the LNA, led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, and forces aligned with the internationally recognized government in Tripoli.
Tripoli itself remains a hotspot for sporadic clashes between pro-Haftar units and other armed groups, against the backdrop of a stalled political process and growing international concerns over Libya’s fragmented security landscape.
