UNSMIL condemns attacks on civilians in Tripoli, calls for deesclation

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has condemned the Khalifa Haftar militias’ indiscriminate bombardment of Tripoli with rockets, saying many of those rockets have landed on civilian neighborhoods, resulting in casualties.

UNSMIL said in a statement that it was alarmed by the continuing escalation of violence in Libya, particularly by the intensification of fighting in the past few days, resulting in civilian casualties and risking new waves of displacement.

It added that it had noted with grave concern claims of attacks on civilians in western coastal towns recently seized by the Government of National Accord (GNA) forces.

“UNSMIL is following up the above allegations, which if verified, would constitute grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.” It indicated.

UNSMIL warned that acts of revenge will further escalate the conflict, and lead to a cycle of revenge that threatens the social fabric in Libya, calling on parties to the conflict to deescalate, curb incitement, and immediately respect the repeated calls by the Secretary-General and international partners for a humanitarian pause.