Loud explosion reported in Libyan capital

A loud explosion has been reported in the Libyan capital of Tripoli, with residents saying the blast was heard throughout the city and a dark cloud of smoke being visible in the sky.

According to Press TV, local TV broadcasters said an assailant on a motorbike detonated his explosive device at a main junction in Tripoli on Tuesday morning.

There was, however, no immediate confirmation of the incident by local officials. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack either.

Libyan rebels led by Khalifa Haftar last week rejected a ceasefire declaration by the government.

The government had said that Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj had “issued instructions to all military forces to immediately cease fire and all combat operations in all Libyan territories.”

However, a spokesman for Haftar rejected the ceasefire on August 23.

Haftar, who is primarily supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, and Jordan, launched a military offensive in April 2019 to seize Tripoli and unseat the government.

SS