Armed group profile · SD Strength Index
Tripoli government forces: military strength 2026
How strong are the Tripoli government's forces in 2026?
They hold Tripoli and most of northwestern Libya, including Misrata, Zawiya and the areas next to Zintan. The coalition is a set of rival armed groups that sit nominally under the defence and interior ministries of the Government of National Unity and answer in practice to their own commanders and cities.
On the Silent Dossier index the coalition sits behind the Polisario Front and ahead of Hamas. Its low cohesion is what holds it back. Since defending Tripoli in 2019 and 2020 its groups have mostly fought each other.
Which armed groups make up the Tripoli forces?
The main formations are the 444 Brigade, the 111 Brigade, Misratan units including the Joint Force, groups from Zawiya and Interior Ministry formations. Radaa, which holds eastern Tripoli around Mitiga airport under a contested arrangement, is now only loosely attached.
In August 2023 the 444 Brigade and Radaa fought the deadliest battle in the capital since 2020. In May 2025 al-Kikli, head of the Stability Support Apparatus, was killed, and the 444 Brigade fought both his forces and Radaa until a ceasefire on 14 May. Tension rose again in September 2025, and in 2026 the groups faced off over Mitiga. In July 2026 Radaa partly withdrew from the airport and the Tripoli port under a deal with Dbeibah's government. The exact dates of those steps are uncertain.
How much of the Tripoli coalition is professional?
A small part. Units trained by Turkey, the 444 Brigade above all, are the most professional, but no numbers have been published for them. Most formations are city and neighbourhood militias on the state payroll, called up when needed.
The overall range is a judgement. No current count exists for any major formation. The only firm figure is old: about 40,000 members were registered with Misrata's revolutionary union in 2012.
What weapons do the Tripoli forces have?
Armed pickups and armoured vehicles make up most of the kit, including armour supplied by Turkey and documented in 2020. Nobody has counted them. Misrata keeps a handful of old L-39 and MiG-23 jets and some helicopters whose serviceability is unknown, and the coast guard runs patrol boats, some with Turkish and Italian help.
The coalition has no ballistic or cruise missiles. Its reach in 2019 and 2020 came from Bayraktar TB2 drones and air defences at Al-Watiya and Mitiga operated by Turkey. Who owns the drones in western Libya today, Turkey or the government, remains unclear.
Who backs the Tripoli government's forces?
Turkey, above all. It supplies troops, trainers and drones, and in January 2026 its troop mandate in Libya was extended for two years, to 2028. Qatar backed the Tripoli side earlier. Turkey also deployed Syrian fighters in 2019 and 2020, reportedly thousands, and how many remain is unknown.
The groups are paid mostly from the Libyan state budget through government ministries and central bank salary lines. Control of ports, airports and local economies brings in the rest, which is why Mitiga matters so much to Radaa.
How do the Tripoli forces compare with Haftar's LNA?
The LNA is stronger. Silent Dossier estimates 25,000 to 85,000 LNA fighters under a single chain of command, with more armour, more aircraft and far more territory. The Tripoli groups have never agreed on one commander.
Their advantage is Turkey. Its intervention turned back Haftar's offensive on Tripoli in 2020. That shield is less certain now, because Ankara has courted Haftar since 2025 while still backing the Tripoli side.
Key figures
| Fighters | 20k–50k | C |
| Ballistic missiles | 0 | C |
| Cruise and anti-ship missiles | 0 | C |
A confirmed B strong estimate C estimated range
Main weapons
| Bayraktar TB2 (Turkish-operated or GNU-operated, attribution varies) | — | C |
| Armed pickups and armoured vehicles | — | B |
Assessment
| Firepower | 2/5 | |
| Cohesion and command | 1/5 | |
| Outside support | 3/5 | |
| Combat experience | 3/5 | |
| Professionalism | 2/5 |
Backers. Turkey
Ground. Tripoli and most of northwestern Libya, including Misrata and Zawiya. The Radaa force holds eastern Tripoli around Mitiga airport under a contested arrangement.
Professional or irregular. A coalition of rival armed groups, nominally under the GNU's defence and interior ministries and paid by the state, but loyal to their own commanders and cities. Turkish training has professionalised a few units such as the 444 Brigade. Repeated fighting between member groups shows there is no unified command.
What changed in 2026
Questions readers ask
Who controls Tripoli?
The Government of National Unity, through a coalition of armed groups on its payroll. Radaa controls the east of the city around Mitiga airport under a contested arrangement.
How many fighters does the Tripoli government have?
Silent Dossier puts the coalition at an indicative 20,000 to 50,000. No current count exists for any of its major formations, so the range is a judgement.
What is the 444 Brigade?
A unit trained by Turkey, and the most professional of the forces aligned with Tripoli. It fought Radaa in August 2023, and in May 2025 it fought both Radaa and the Stability Support Apparatus.
Does Turkey have troops in Libya?
Yes. Turkish troops and trainers support the Tripoli government, and their mandate was extended in January 2026 to run until 2028.
Is the Tripoli government stronger than Haftar?
No. Haftar's Libyan National Army has a single command, heavier weapons and more territory. Tripoli's real protection is Turkish support, which reversed Haftar's offensive in 2020.