Tripoli continues to be gripped by violence as the battle between Zintani-led brigades and those from Misrata rages on. The area surrounding the Tripoli International Airport (TIA) has become a battle zone, while fighting has been reported in several Tripoli neighbourhoods, as well as in front of the Interior Ministry.

The long expected showdown between Misratan and Zintani forces in Tripoli appears to have kicked off with control of Tripoli International Airport a key point of contention. The Foreign Ministry remains under siege and bank robberies continue.

Kidnappings and assassinations struck Tripoli and Benghazi. The Foreign Ministry remained under siege and fighting continued in Derna.

Benghazi women’s rights activist and lawyer Salwa Bughagis was shot and killed in her home. A bomb targeted the Constitutional Drafting Committee for the first time and gunmen stole more than 2 million Euros from banks in Tripoli.

A plane carrying Constitutional Drafting Assembly members to Kufra was forced to make an emergency landing at a nearby oilfield airstrip on 18 June after the Kufra airport received anonymous threats that the plane would be shot down.

The Thobacts Hotel in Tripoli was attacked. An Ansar al-Sharia leader was assassinated in Derna and two attacks occurred in Benghazi.

Violence between Tebu and Awlad Suliman continued in Sebha. Ansar al-Sharia attempted to assassinate Haftar in Benghazi and clashed with Abu Salim Martyrs’ Brigade in Derna.

Ansar al Sharia condemned Hiftar’s campaign against them and vowed to fight against what they called a “crusade on Islam”.