Unknown gunmen assassinated the commander of the Naval Academy camp in Tripoli, Abdul Rahman Milad, nicknamed “Al-Bidja”, after showering him with live bullets in the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

Anadolu Agency quoted an unnamed security source as saying that gunmen intercepted Major Abdul Rahman Al-Bidja's car in the city of Janzour (the western suburb of Tripoli) on Sunday evening, and opened fire on him with their automatic rifles, killing him.

The source explained that the security services have begun their investigations into the incident.

While the source did not clarify the identity of the Bidja assassins or the suspects, he indicated that “he has many enemies,” as he put it.

He said, “We expect security tension in the capital due to the mobilizations being carried out by armed groups affiliated with the Bidja in the city of Zawiya (50 km west of Tripoli), his hometown.”

The President of the Supreme Council of State mourned Khaled Al-MashriOfficer Abdul Rahman Milad, via his official Facebook page.

Al-Mashri (from Zawiya) said, “With great sorrow and grief, we received the news of the assassination of the commander of the Naval Academy camp, Major Abdul Rahman Milad, who is known in the city of Zawiya for his efforts to reconcile its people when any dispute arises, and his efforts to resume work at the Naval Academy and graduate its first batch after a 14-year hiatus.”

Al-Mishri called on the Attorney General and the competent authorities to reveal those involved in the assassination and bring them to justice.

Wanted by Interpol

Abdul Rahman Milad is one of the most famous security figures in western Libya. According to the Anadolu Agency, several countries, including the United States and Britain, accuse him of leading a large Human Trafficking Gang, especially since he is one of the leaders of the Libyan Coast Guard in Zawiya, which is considered one of the most important areas for migrants to depart for Europe.

In June 2018, Al-Bidja was named in a Security Council report as “the leader of the most dangerous human trafficking gang in Libya, involved in the torture of migrants and human rights abuses,” and an arrest warrant was issued against him by Interpol (Interpol).

In the same month, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on him and five other Libyans for what it said were “threats to the peace, security and stability of Libya through their involvement in migrant smuggling,” a move Britain announced at the same time.

On October 14, 2020, the Ministry of Interior of the Libyan Government of National Accord announced the arrest of “Al-Bidja”, amidst the welcome of the United Nations mission in the country, but he was released months later.

and support Libya From time to time, security problems have arisen amid a political division that has continued since 2022, as two governments struggle for power: the first is the internationally recognized unity government headed by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah Its headquarters is in Tripoli, from which it manages the entire west of the country, and the second is the government of Osama Hamad, which was assigned by the House of Representatives and is headquartered in the city of Benghazi It runs the entire east of the country and cities in the south.