UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday called on the parties involved in the recent escalation of fighting in Libya to make everything possible to prevent civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructure, as provided for by international law, in the wake of an attack on Tripoli's Mitiga Airport
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 09th April, 2019) UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday called on the parties involved in the recent escalation of fighting in Libya to make everything possible to prevent civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructure, as provided for by international law, in the wake of an attack on Tripoli's Mitiga Airport.
On Monday, combat aviation of Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army carried out an airstrike against Mitiga Airport the only active airport in the capital. The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) slammed the attack as a war crime, saying that the strike jeopardized the safety of civilians and flights operation.
"The attack near the Mitiga Airport yesterday that left many civilians in Tripoli stranded brought into stark focus the imperative for all parties to respect international humanitarian law, and to take all possible measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and prisons," Bachelet was quoted as saying in a press release, published on the official website of the rights commissioner.
The situation in Libya, which has been in a state of a civil conflict since 2011, escalated last week after Haftar announced an offensive against Tripoli in a bid to oust "militias" from the city. On April 7, forces loyal to the GNA said that they launched a counteroffensive operation.
