Violent clashes erupted on Saturday, 8 June 2013, between residents of Benghazi and the "Libyan Shield" militia. The events were triggered when a family claimed ownership of the land on which the militia had set up camp.

The fighting left many dead, possibly 58 by some counts.

"Libyan Shield" is the militia commanded by Wisam Bin Ahmid, originally known as the "Free Libya Martyrs." It was under this name that it participated in the takeover of Tripoli at the end of the NATO bombing campaign. It is mainly composed of fighters from Misrata, former Turkish Jews who settled in Libya in the 18th century and are favorable to the Atlantic Alliance.

The inhabitants of Benghazi rose up in February 2011, after snipers had fired on demonstrators. They demanded the independence of Cyrenaica and were later used to overthrow Muammar al-Gaddafi. They do not feel at home in the New Libya.