Libyan militia leader claims self-defense in Zawia-Surman clashes

Former militia leader Brigadier General Mohamed Salem Bahroun, also known as Al-Far, has issued a statement asserting self-defense in response to militia clashes that occurred this morning in Zawia and Surman. Bahroun, accused of participating in the clashes against the 103rd Battalion led by Othman Al-Lahab, stated his intention was to "unburden his conscious" and reveal the "truth of our position."

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We never desired war, nor did we seek confrontation or bloodshed; for the sanctity of life is paramount, and Libyan blood is precious to us all.

Both Bahroun and Al-Lahab, along with their security forces, are recognized by the Tripoli government. However, they have both faced accusations of involvement in numerous militia clashes in the region over recent months and years. In his statement, Bahroun emphasized that his forces "never desired war, nor did we seek confrontation or bloodshed," stressing the sanctity of life and the preciousness of Libyan blood.

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Our personnel had no choice but to perform their duty by defending themselves, their facilities, and the state institutions they are entrusted to protect.

Bahroun declared that his agency's primary focus is combating crime, including drug and human trafficking, fuel smuggling, and robbery, which he believes threaten citizens' security and state authority. He claimed that the headquarters of his security agency and the Surman Security Directorate came under armed attack in the early hours of the morning. His personnel, he stated, "had no choice but to perform their duty by defending themselves, their facilities, and the state institutions they are entrusted to protect."

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Their objective, in our view, was to undermine the role of our agency, and security agencies in general, in combating these phenomena, and to hinder efforts to protect society and uphold the rule of law.

He posited that the attack was orchestrated by groups connected to criminal gangs involved in illicit activities, aiming to undermine the role of security agencies in fighting these phenomena and protecting society. Following the repelling of the attack, Bahroun stated that control was established over the assault's origin points to eliminate the threat and secure the area for citizen protection, not for occupation. He added that once the situation stabilized, all premises were handed over to the competent authorities in coordination with the Supreme Commander.

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Once the situation stabilized, we handed over all those premises and facilities to the competent authorities, in coordination with the Supreme Commander of the L