An attack on a military academy in the Libyan capital killed at least 30 people and injured over 33 others on Saturday, the health ministry of the Tripoli-based government confirmed in a statement, reported Reuters. The airstrike targeted the Hadaba academy in the southern district of Tripoli.
According to Amin al-Hashemi, spokesman for the health ministry of the United Nations-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), cadets were gathered on a parade ground before going to their dormitories at the time of the attack.
The GNA allied forces described Saturday’s attack on the military camp as “an aerial bombing” launched by their eastern rivals. But a spokesperson for the eastern-based militia denied any involvement.
The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) strongly condemned the bombing of a military academy in the nation’s capital of Tripoli.
The escalation in military action “in this dangerous manner further complicates the situation in Libya and threatens opportunities to return to the political process,” the UNSMIL said in a statement.
The GNA foreign ministry has called for referring Haftar and his aides to the International Criminal Court on charges of committing “crimes against humanity”, adding that it would call for an emergency UN Security Council meeting to discuss the alleged crimes.
Tripoli has been the scene of fighting since eastern commander Gen. Khalifa Hiftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army launched an attack on forces led by the United Nations-supported government in April last year to get hold of the capital.
The fighting has escalated and there has been an increase in airstrikes and shelling in recent weeks since Haftar declared a final and decisive battle for the capital after the Libyan authorities signed two military and maritime agreements with Turkey.
France, Russia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and other key Arab countries support Hafter and his allies in the east, while the Tripoli-based government is backed by Qatar, Italy, and Turkey.
