Dispatch from Tripoli: Photographs by Christopher Morris

2 minute read

Despite massive airstrikes by the U.S. and its military allies, TIME contract photographer Christopher Morris remains in Tripoli, documenting the ongoing conflict and its aftermath.

Morris visited embattled leader Muammar Gaddafi’s headquarters twice on Saturday, part of an official tour conducted by the regime. “It’s something straight out of a bad James Bond movie,” Morris said. Inside the compound, he encountered a devout Gaddafi supporter who began slapping his forearm, the way a heroin addict prepares his veins, screaming, “Muammar is in my blood.”

That very same compound was struck by missiles Sunday night. After the airstrike, Morris and a group of journalists were loaded onto a bus to tour the compound once again, the third time in two days. “They tell us where we are going, they just don’t tell us why,” Morris said. “Upon our arrival, you could sense that things were very different. All of the lights in the inner walls were out and anti-aircraft guns were moved into the open. We were rushed to a large building in the center of the compound that was hit two hours earlier by some kind of missile strike. Soldiers and journalists picked through the rubble pulling out missile parts that were still warm.”

Note: This gallery will be updated regularly. More of Morris’s work from Libya can be seen here.

A supporter of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi holds a poster overlooking a demonstration in Ban-Waled, March 23, 2011.
A supporter of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi holds a poster overlooking a demonstration in Ban-Waled, March 23, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
The crowd begins to gather in Ban-Waled, March 23, 2011.
The crowd begins to gather in Ban-Waled, March 23, 2011. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
A Gaddafi supporter in Ban-Waled, March 23, 2011.
A Gaddafi supporter in Ban-Waled, March 23, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Supporters of Gaddafi vent their anger towards the foreign media in Ban-Waled, March 23, 2011.
Supporters of Gaddafi vent their anger towards the foreign media in Ban-Waled, March 23, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
The outskirts of the demonstration in Ban-Waled, March 23, 2011.
The outskirts of the demonstration in Ban-Waled, March 23, 2011. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
A man on a mobile phone in Ban-Waled, March 23, 2011.
A man on a mobile phone in Ban-Waled, March 23, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
A Gaddafi loyalist stands amid the wreckage of a building struck by missiles in Tripoli, Libya, March 22, 2011.
A Gaddafi loyalist stands amid the wreckage of a building struck by missiles in Tripoli, Libya, March 22, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Empty streets in Tripoli, March 22, 2011.
Empty streets in Tripoli, March 22, 2011. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
A press conference in the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli, March 22, 2011.
A press conference in the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli, March 22, 2011. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
A man watches television, March 22, 2011.
A man watches television, March 22, 2011. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
A Gaddafi supporter holds a portrait of the Libyan leader for the media during a tour of a building struck by missiles, March 22, 2011.
A Gaddafi supporter holds a portrait of the Libyan leader for the media during a tour of a building struck by missiles, March 22, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Anti aircraft fire over Tripoli
Anti-aircraft fire over Tripoli, March 21, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Cruise Missile strike in Tripoli
Libyan soldiers survey the damage to a building hit by a missile in Gaddafi's compound, March 21, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Cruise missile strike in Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli
Soldiers sift through the rubble after the missile strike, March 21, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Cruise missile strike in Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli
The cruise missile struck a building in the center of Gaddafi's compound. A Libyan soldier displays what appears to be shrapnel for television cameras, March 21, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Cruise missile strike in Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli
No casualties were reported in the strike. Libyan soldiers are shown here in the midst of the destruction, March 21, 2011. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Tripoli residents bury some bombing victims at the martyrs cemetery in Tripoli
Gaddafi loyalists bury a man allegedly killed during a missile attack, March 20, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Tripoli residents bury some bombing victims at the martyrs cemetery in Tripoli
Gaddafi loyalists carry the coffin of a man allegedly killed during a missile attack, March 20, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Tripoli residents bury some bombing victims at the martyrs cemetery in Tripoli
Men stand in prepared graves as they await the arrival of people allegedly killed during missile strikes, March 20, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Tripoli residents bury some bombing victims at the martyrs cemetery in Tripoli
A Gaddafi loyalist prays near the cemetery, March 20, 2011. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Tripoli residents bury some bombing victims at the martyrs cemetery in Tripoli
Men await the arrival of bodies, March 20, 2011. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Tripoli residents bury some bombing victims at the martyrs cemetery in Tripoli
Libyans waiting for bodies, March 20, 2011. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Tripoli residents bury some bombing victims at the martyrs cemetery in Tripoli
Loyalists express their support for Gaddafi in the cemetery, March 20, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Tripoli residents bury some bombing victims at the martyrs cemetery in Tripoli
The martyrs' cemetery, March 20, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Tripoli residents bury some bombing victims at the martyrs cemetery in Tripoli
A transmission dish for Libyan state television at the cemetery, March 20, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Ayesha Gaddafi, daughter of Muammar Gaddafi, with loyalist supporters in Tripoli
Ayesha Gaddafi, the daughter of Muammar Gaddafi, joins loyalist supporters at a rally outside Gaddafi's compound, March 19, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Loyalist residents of Tripoli
Men and soldiers chat near the blast wall outside of Gaddafi's compound, March 19, 2011.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
A Libyan soldier at nightfall
A Libyan soldier at nightfall, March 19, 2011. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME

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