Airport bombed by Libya’s Haftar not military: United Nation

The United Nations mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has dismissed claims by strongman Khalifa Haftar that a government-controlled airport bombed by his forces in recent days housed military infrastructure. On Thursday and Friday Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) launched air strikes on Zuwara airport in western Libya, targeting what it said was a hangar “which houses Turkish drones and their ammunition”.

The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord -- recognised by the UN -- said a member of civil protection was wounded in Friday’s attack. UNSMIL said it dis - patched a delegation to Zuwara to investigate the LNA allegations. “After reviewing the airport’s facilities and all the adjacent buildings, the assessment mission was able to confirm that neither military assets nor military infrastructure were observed at Zuwara Airport,” a statement said.

It declared Zuwara airport “a civilian facility”. UNSMIL denounced the strike, which “caused serious damage to the airport’s infrastructure, including to the runway”. “Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructures constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian and human rights law,” it said. Haftar launched an offensive in April to seize Tripoli from the GNA.