18 November 2019

10 persons killed in air raid in Libya that hit a biscuit factory

At least 10 people were killed and 35 wounded in an air attack that hit a biscuit factory in Libya, most of them migrants from Niger and Bangladesh, according to Ghassan Salame, UN Libya envoy. The UN-recognised Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) blamed the Libyan National Army (LNA) of Khalifa Haftar for the attack. Salame has labelled the attacks as a war crime, regardless if it was deliberate or not, accusing the LNA of causing civilian casualties by increased air attacks with unguided bombs. He also blamed a recent rise in violence on the growing use of mercenaries and private military contractors. In a separate development, on 14 and 15 November the International Criminal Court (ICC) held a hearing for Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, who is accused by the ICC of crimes against humanity during 2011. Al-Islam challenges the admissibility of his case before the court, which is illegal according to Libyan law. However, the GNA has agreed that his case is admissible before the ICC, which considers him a fugitive.

circle graphic