Residents in the Libyan capital of Tripoli are trapped in their homes, unable to escape violent clashes between rival militias, according to the country's health ministry. The fighting, which broke out on Monday evening, is the most intense shown of violence in Tripoli this year.

The clashes started after the head of the 444 brigade was reportedly detained by the Special Deterrence Force at an airport earlier in the day. It remains uncertain how many casualties there are, as the Red Crescent has not yet responded to requests for comment.

The Libyan Health Ministry has called for the warring sides to allow emergency teams to enter affected areas and for blood to be sent to hospitals nearby. Following a period of relative peace, the escalation of violence comes after years of civil war, where two rival sets of authorities have been locked in a political stalemate.

Tripoli has seen occasional incidents of violence due to longstanding divisions, but they usually resolve quickly. Since 2014, the oil-rich country has been divided between east and west administrations, each supported by different militias and foreign governments.

Libya has been in a state of upheaval since the NATO-backed uprising in 2011, which led to the overthrow and death of dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The clashes have resulted in an exodus of aircraft from Tripoli, with many flights being diverted to the nearby city of Misrata, according to OPSGroup, an organization for the aviation industry.

As the violence rages on, residents of Tripoli remain trapped and in fear for their lives. The international community calls for an end to the violence and urges the warring factions to find a peaceful resolution to their differences.