عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Fears of Clashes Resuming Between Militias in Tripoli

Members of the armed militias in the city of Sirte (AP)
Members of the armed militias in the city of Sirte (AP)
TT
TT

Fears of Clashes Resuming Between Militias in Tripoli

Members of the armed militias in the city of Sirte (AP)
Members of the armed militias in the city of Sirte (AP)

Controversial movements of some armed militias affiliated with Fayez al-Sarraj’s Government of National Accord (GNA) in the capital, Tripoli, have raised fears of a new wave of clashes.

Head of the so-called Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade (TRB) Haithem Tajouri has recently launched a verbal attack on the GNA and its loyal forces describing it as a weak government.

His comments seemed to be in response to GNA Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha’s earlier attempts to control the entrances and exits of the capital.

Tajouri demanded that he be informed of whoever wants to enter Tripoli, whether patrols or any deployed force in the city.

Meanwhile, military commanders from the GNA-affiliated “Volcano of Rage” operation said TRB was on a state of alert.

Local residents have also noticed the sudden and unexplained repositioning of some militias in Tripoli during the past two days.

Local media have reported the appearance of the smuggler who has been sanctioned by the UN Security Council and is wanted by the Attorney General, Mohammed Kachlaf, beside GNA Defense Minister Salah el-Din Al-Namroush during his recent visit to the headquarters of the Petroleum Facilities Guard.

Kachlaf’s appearance after the arrest of his partner, Abd al-Rahman al-Milad in Tripoli in mid-October, raises questions on the engagement of the GNA Ministry of Interior in battles against militias.

Kachlaf has been controlling the Zawiya refinery for years. He is described as one of the rich and masters of smuggling in the western coastal regions, knowing that he commands militias affiliated with the Petroleum Facilities Guard. He is enlisted on the UN Security Council sanctions list, which includes travel bans and freezing of funds.

Namroush also employed an ISIS member after the Ministry of Defense assigned Mohammed Balaam to manage and follow up the exchange of detainees and corpses, in cooperation with the ministry’s permanent committee for humanitarian affairs, knowing that he had previously participated in the battles waged by extremists against the Libyan National Army (LNA) forces in Benghazi before his escape to Tripoli.

Spokesperson for the GNA Sirte and al-Jufrah operations room Brigadier General Abdul Hadi Dara has claimed that a member of the Sudanese “Janjaweed” militia was shot dead by the townspeople on Abu Hadi Island after attempting to rob a house.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Iraqi PM Suspends Popular Mobilization Forces Retirement Law

Al-Sudani alongside PMF Chairman Faleh Al-Fayyadh and Chief of Staff “Abu Fadak” (Archive - Government Media)
Al-Sudani alongside PMF Chairman Faleh Al-Fayyadh and Chief of Staff “Abu Fadak” (Archive - Government Media)
TT
TT

Iraqi PM Suspends Popular Mobilization Forces Retirement Law

Al-Sudani alongside PMF Chairman Faleh Al-Fayyadh and Chief of Staff “Abu Fadak” (Archive - Government Media)
Al-Sudani alongside PMF Chairman Faleh Al-Fayyadh and Chief of Staff “Abu Fadak” (Archive - Government Media)

The Iraqi government has withdrawn the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Retirement Law from Parliament, pending amendments to reduce the number of PMF members and leaders set for retirement. Reports suggest that political factions are attempting to pass the law alongside the Accountability and Justice Law as part of a broader legislative deal.
A government source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani instructed the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers to withdraw the PMF Service and Retirement Law to prevent legislative deadlock, as disputes over the bill had stalled parliamentary sessions for weeks.
Parliament was scheduled to meet on Tuesday afternoon, following a failed session on Saturday due to the lack of quorum. Shiite factions, particularly within the Coordination Framework, had insisted on including the PMF Retirement Law on the session’s agenda, delaying progress on other legislation.

The key point of contention within the Coordination Framework remains the retirement age stipulated in the bill. Reports indicate that the current provisions could force PMF Chairman Faleh Al-Fayyadh to step down. Al-Fayyadh has led the PMF since 2015, after being appointed by former Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi following the rise of ISIS in 2014.
The PMF, formed in 2014 in response to a religious decree by top Shiite religious authority Ali Al-Sistani, played a crucial role in the fight against ISIS. However, ongoing political discussions suggest efforts to restructure the force, particularly amid US pressure and the possibility of financial sanctions targeting individuals and groups within the organization.
While it remains unclear if the government’s move is directly linked to international pressures, the suspension coincides with Sunni factions pushing to pass the Accountability and Justice Law.
Parliamentary sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Sunni parties are seeking to dismantle or significantly limit the powers of the Accountability and Justice Commission—which oversees De-Baathification policies—in exchange for supporting the PMF Retirement Law.
Established in 2005, the Accountability and Justice Commission led to the dismissal of thousands of former Baath Party members from government positions and the confiscation of their properties. Sunni parties argue that the law has been politically exploited to disqualify their candidates from elections.
Despite ongoing negotiations, lawmakers doubt that Parliament will reconvene during Ramadan, as disagreements over the PMF Retirement Law and the Accountability and Justice Law remain unresolved.