The State Department announced that after days of heavy combat among militias in Libya, the U.S. embassy has been shut down and its staff taken to safety in neighboring Tunisia.

“All embassy personnel were relocated, including the Marine security guards who were providing security at the embassy and during the movement,” Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said.
Mr. Kirby said that “The embassy staff was driven in vehicles to Tunisia” accompanied by “F-16’s, ISR assets and an Airborne Response Force with MV-22 Ospreys” for security reasons, while the entire operation lasted about five hours.

However, the transfer of British embassy staff was not conducted without incidents. The British convoy came under fire and fortunatley the staff escaped unscathed.

Meanwhile, France, Britain and Turkey withdrew their staff and urged their citizens to leave the country immediately.

At the same time, Special Representatives of Arab League, European Union and UN declared that the situation in Libya is led to a critical situation and called United Nations to push for a ceasefire.

According to the correspondent of BBC, Rana Jawad, the government has lost control over strong rival militia groups that were formed at the end of the civil war and after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

At least 150 dead and 400 wounded are recorded in two weeks during the violent incidents between rival militia.