Five Catalans have taken refuge in a hotel in Libya due to the conflict between militias.

BarcelonaA group of nine Spaniards, including five Catalans, who are part of a trade mission organized by the Tarragona Chamber of Commerce, are being held in a hotel in Tripoli, where they have become trapped in the middle of the conflict with militias in Libya. They had arrived on Monday, and hostilities in the area have forced them to spend a few hours in the hotel basement for security reasons.

Sources from the Spanish Government Delegation in Catalonia consulted by ARA have indicated that the Spanish ambassador to Libya is already in contact with those affected. "The situation in Tripoli has become more complicated due to shootings, and they are confined to the hotel," the same sources summarized. They also added that "when security conditions are met, regrouping or evacuation will be considered."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also indicated that the embassy is in contact with those affected and that "they have been given the message to avoid travel and remain in their residences and hotels."

Meanwhile, sources from the Tarragona Chamber of Commerce have explained that the situation has calmed down, the clashes "are not as strong as they were in the morning," and that they have now been able to return to their hotel rooms. According to the Chamber of Commerce, those affected are eight exporters—four Catalan and four from the rest of Spain—and the Chamber's International Director, Roberto Barros. Their plan was to return to Catalonia tomorrow, Thursday, but it is now clear that they will not be able to, although they insist that they are all in good health. There are guests of different nationalities at the establishment and they would be protected by the Libyan diplomatic police. As reported by theAbcThe airport is reportedly closed due to the conflict, in which guerrillas are involved. Therefore, they are waiting for it to reopen so the embassy can implement the repatriation plan. "We don't know when or how," the Chamber admits.

In a video released by the ACN, Barros explained that "at no time" have they felt "any sense of physical danger." "They haven't threatened us, nor do we feel that our lives are in danger. There have been clashes between the militias, the situation is complicated, and the night has been long," he stated. He added that the militias did not approach them and that they "have no interest" in them. He added that they went down to the basement only to avoid the risk of a stray bullet and that the situation had calmed down by midday. "We are awaiting instructions from the embassy, which is working very well to find a repatriation plan. We are calm, waiting for the moment to return," he concluded.

Armed clashes in the capital

The militia war has been constant in Libya since the fall of Moammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, amid the wave of uprisings that swept the region. From time to time, clashes have reached the capital. Just on Monday, fighting erupted between the various factions vying for control of Tripoli. The trigger was the death of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, alias "Ghani al-Kikli". Gheniwa, head of the militia that calls itself the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA), considered the most powerful in the city. According to Agence France-Presse, the clashes occurred in Abu Salim, a working-class neighborhood in the city, leaving at least six dead.

This is the most serious wave of violence in Tripoli since the summer of 2023 and has once again made the population hostage to urban warfare. Videos posted on social media show nighttime scenes with heavy weapons fire, columns of black smoke in the middle of residential neighborhoods, and armed men with armored vehicles on the streets. This afternoon, the Minister of Defense announced a ceasefire.