CAIRO, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Egypt has repatriated 71 of its citizens from Libya amid rising tensions in the capital Tripoli, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
In a statement, the ministry said the operation was fully funded by the Egyptian government, placing no financial burden on the returnees. The evacuees were flown home aboard an EgyptAir flight, the country's flag carrier.
The repatriation followed directives from President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi to monitor the conditions of Egyptians living in Libya, ensure their safety, and facilitate the return of those wishing to come home, the ministry said.
Tensions have surged in Tripoli since on May 12 after heavy fighting erupted between the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) and the 444 Brigade, a militia loyal to Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah. The violence broke out following the reported killing of an SSA commander inside a facility controlled by the 444 Brigade.
A truce was reached last week, and a Joint Truce Committee was established by Libya's Presidential Council and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to de-escalate tensions, prevent renewed conflict, and protect civilians.
Libya has remained fragmented and volatile since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi. The country is divided between two rival governments: the internationally recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) based in Tripoli, and an eastern administration aligned with the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by commander Khalifa Haftar.
In Tripoli and other areas controlled by the GNU, armed groups continue to operate with relative impunity, frequently clashing over territory, resources, and political influence. ■