“Senseless and indiscriminate”: UN Libya Mission strongly condemns bombing of military academy

News Bharati    06-Jan-2020 12:57:26 PM
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United Nations, January 6: The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), on Sunday strongly condemned the bombing of a military academy in the capital Tripoli, which left at least 30 dead and more than 30 others wounded.
 

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Saturday’s bombing reportedly took place as cadets were gathering on a parade ground at the Hadaba academy in a southern district of the capital. The forces of the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) have been laying siege to Tripoli since April, under the leadership of commander Khalifa Haftar, who is aligned with a rival administration in Tobruk, opposing the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) and allied forces, based in the capital. 
 
Following an uptick in aerial attacks and shelling in recent weeks, which have killed at least 11 civilians since early December, the Secretary-General António Guterres released a statement on Friday, renewing his call for an immediate ceasefire in Libya and a return to political dialogue. 
 
 
 
Responding to Saturday’s attack, where the majority of victims were reportedly cadets from cities across the country, UNSMIL stressed in a statement in Arabic on Twitter, that the escalation in military action in this dangerous manner further complicates the situation in Libya and threatens opportunities to return to the political process. 
 
Forces allied with the GNA described the attack as an aerial strike, launched by the LNA, but a spokesperson for the eastern-based militia denied any involvement. 
 
Offering its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured, UNSMIL added that the continuing indiscriminate shelling of civilians and civilian buildings such as hospitals may rise to the level of war crimes, and the perpetrators will not go unpunished no matter how long it may take. 
 
 
 
In a statement on Friday, the deputy head of the Mission, Yacoub El Hillo, condemned the intensified airstrikes, saying he was horrified by these senseless, indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas and civilian infrastructure that continue to take innocent lives.