Launched TUESDAY July 30, 2019. Reportage #707: Descent Into Chaos: Libya's civil war in 2011 ousted and eventually killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi and in the aftermath and chaos the country was split between two rival administrations. A U.N. backed administration in the capital, Tripoli, oversees the country's western regions, and a opposing government in the east is supported by the so-called Libyan National Army whose leader is Khalifa Hifter. Each is backed by an array of militias and armed groups currently fighting over resources and territory. The conflict exploded on 4 April when the head of the eastern-based militia known as the Libyan National Army (LNA), General Khalifa Haftar, launched an offensive against the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), based in Tripoli. Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are backing Hifter while Turkey and Qatar are supporting militias allied with the Tripoli-backed government. Several Western nations have partnered with militias to combat extremists and stem the flow of Europe-bound migrants. To add to the downward spiraling situation, on 25 July, up to 150 migrants lost their lives after a boat they were traveling in capsized off the coast of Libya. .Predicting that the 'days ahead will prove foundational to the years ahead for Libyans and the region'', Ghassan SalamŽ the top United Nations official in the country told the Security Council, that it was no exaggeration to describe the oil-rich nation as having reached 'a crucial juncture.'
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A fighter of Libya's UN-backed government fires during heavy clashes with the east-based rebel army in Salah al-Din. The rebel army has been leading a military campaign since early April to take over Tripoli from the government. The fighting so far has killed more than 1,000 people, injured more than 5,700 others, and displaced more than 120,000 people, according to the World Health Organization.
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Fighters from forces of the UN-backed Libyan government are seen during clashes with the Libyan National Army (LNA) troops at Al-Sawani front line near Tripoli airport. Libya's UN-backed government on Wednesday welcomed the call by the European Union (EU) for a ceasefire in Tripoli, which is witnessing violent clashes between the government and the east-based army over control of the city.
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Fighters of UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) take positions on the ruins of a mosque at a frontline during clashes with Libya's eastern-based army near Tripoli international airport.
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A bullet hole in a building shows the scene at a frontline during clashes between UN-backed government and Libya's eastern-based army near Tripoli international airport. Libya's eastern-based army on Thursday announced shooting down a drone belonging to the rival UN-backed government in central Libya. The army, has been leading a military campaign since early April to take over Tripoli from the government. The fighting so far has killed more than a thousand people, injured more than 5,700 others, and forced more than 120,000 people to flee their homes, according to the World Health Organization.
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A fighter of UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) takes positions in an abandoned building at a frontline during clashes with Libya's eastern-based army near Tripoli international airport. Libya's eastern-based army on Thursday announced shooting down a drone belonging to the rival UN-backed government in central Libya.
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A sniper of UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) aims in an abandoned building at a frontline during clashes with Libya's eastern-based army near Tripoli international airport. Libya's eastern-based army on Thursday announced shooting down a drone belonging to the rival UN-backed government in central Libya.
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A fighter from forces of the UN-backed Libyan government reacts after one of his comrades was killed during clashes with the Libyan National Army (LNA) troops at Al-Sawani frontline near Tripoli airport. Libya's UN-backed government on Wednesday welcomed the call by the European Union (EU) for a ceasefire in the capital Tripoli, which is witnessing violent clashes between the government and the east-based army over control of the city.
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A fighter from forces of the UN-backed Libyan government is seen wounded during clashes with the Libyan National Army (LNA) troops at Al-Sawani front line near Tripoli airport. Libya's UN-backed government on Wednesday welcomed the call by the European Union (EU) for a ceasefire in Tripoli, which is witnessing violent clashes between the government and the east-based army over control of the city.
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A fighter from forces of the UN-backed Libyan government is seen during clashes with Libyan National Army (LNA) troops at the Al-Yarmook frontline. According to the World Health Organization, more than 400 people were killed and at least 2,000 wounded since early April, with 11 additional ambulances have been impacted or suffered collateral damage.
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A fighter from forces of the UN-backed Libyan government fires at Libyan National Army (LNA) troops at the Al-Yarmook frontline. With intensified ground fighting and a significant increase in airstrikes on southern Tripoli, the United Nations is ''extremely concerned'' about heavy casualties, a UN spokesman said on Thursday. The conflict broke out over a month ago when forces loyal to Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army attacked Tripoli.
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A fighter of the forces of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) is seen during clashes with east-based Libyan National Army (LNA) troops near Tripoli international airport.
© Amru Salahuddien/Xinhua via ZUMA Wire

Fighters from forces of the UN-backed Libyan government are seen during clashes with the Libyan National Army (LNA) troops at Al-Sawani frontline near Tripoli airport. Libya's UN-backed government on Wednesday welcomed the call by the European Union (EU) for a ceasefire in the capital Tripoli, which is witnessing violent clashes between the government and the east-based army over control of the city.
© Amru Salahuddien/Xinhua via ZUMA Wire

Blood of wounded UN-backed government fighters is seen on a stretcher at a field hospital in Salah Al-Din front line. The top UN envoy for Libya warned on Tuesday that the Arab country is on the verge of civil war that could lead to permanent division.
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A wounded UN-backed government fighter is seen at a field hospital in Salah Al-Din front line. The top UN envoy for Libya warned on Tuesday that the Arab country is on the verge of civil war that could lead to permanent division.
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A worker manufactures a weapon to be provided to the Tripoli front-line troops loyal to the UN-backed Libyan government at a local factory. A total of 376 people have been killed and 1,822 others injured in the fighting between the UN-backed Libyan government and the east-based army in and around the capital Tripoli so far, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday.
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Fighters from UN-backed government forces are seen in Salah Al-Din frontline.
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A fighter of Libya's UN-backed government is seen during heavy clashes with the east-based rebel army in Salah al-Din. UN Special Envoy to Libya warned against escalation of fighting here in the Libyan capital, which is witnessing a deadly armed conflict between the east-based rebel army and the UN-backed government in Tripoli. The rebel army has been leading a military campaign since early April to take over Tripoli from the government.. The fighting so far has killed more than 1,000 people, injured more than 5,700 others, and displaced more than 120,000 people, according to the World Health Organization.
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United Nations-backed government tank is seen in a position at Al-Sawani front line near Tripoli international airport. A total of 562 people have been killed and 2,855 others injured in the fighting in and around the capital Tripoli, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.
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Fighters of the forces of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) are seen insde an armored vehicle during clashes with east-based Libyan National Army (LNA) troops near Tripoli international airport.
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A fighter from forces of the UN-backed Libyan government is seen at Salah Al-Din front line. The top UN envoy for Libya warned on Tuesday that the Arab country is on the verge of civil war that could lead to permanent division.
© Amru Salahuddien/Xinhua via ZUMA Wire

A fighter of Libya's UN-backed government is seen during heavy clashes with the east-based rebel army in Salah al-Din.
© Amru Salahuddien/Xinhua via ZUMA Wire