The US became the latest country to close its mission in Tripoli after violent clashes between militias escalated over the past few weeks and moved closer to the embassy.
"Due to the ongoing violence resulting from clashes between Libyan militias in the immediate vicinity of the US embassy in Tripoli, we have temporarily relocated all of our personnel out of Libya," spokesperson, Marie Harf, said.
"Securing our facilities and ensuring the safety of our personnel are top department priorities, and we did not make this decision lightly," Harf said. "Security has to come first. Regrettably, we had to take this step because the location of our embassy is in very close proximity to intense fighting and ongoing violence between armed Libyan factions."
Turkey also closed its embassy on Friday and the UN and other aid groups had left due to the clashes.
Different militias are vying for control of the country, which has not had an army since the fall of the Gaddafi regime in 2011, with the government paying the militias ever since to maintain law and order.
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