The rocket attacks by militias today reached an oil depot in Tripoli, capital of Libya, which caused a huge fire that has spread to part of the city.
The fire started on Sunday after heavy shelling of rival militias razed to the oil tank Bregal and lit two fuel tanks. According to the Interior Ministry, the first fuel tank contained about six million liters of oil.
Witnesses said the black plumes of smoke could be seen from miles away and Islamist fighters and militias still faced proseculares at Tripoli International Airport despite the fire.
The Libyan government ordered all citizens within three kilometers from the oil reservoir to evacuate immediately and asked the militia to cease fire immediately to avoid a "humanitarian and environmental disaster."
Firefighters struggled to put out the fire, but the constant crossfire between militants and the fire spread forced to leave the area.
The recent clashes between Islamist fighters and militias proseculares around Tripoli International Airport have left at least 97 people and wounded more than 404 and have paralyzed most of the air traffic Libya.
Although there have been rounds of talks and a truce was reached earlier this month, rival groups continue to fight in the city.
Moreover, in Benghazi, the second largest city in Libya, armed clashes have occurred since the day renegade general Khalifa Haftar launched its so-called Operation Dignity terrorism in order to more consistently attack Islamist militants.
China, France, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States and instructed their citizens out of Libya due to the harsh conditions of security in that country.
Many fear that conflicts in major cities can lead to open civil war, which could be even bloodier than the riots of 2011 that toppled the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
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