Libya: 16 Civilians Killed in Derna Airstrikes
Local Editor
Unidentified aircraft attacked several locations in Libya's eastern city of Derna on October 30, 2017, killing 16 civilians and critically wounding 4 children.
Derna medical sources said that most victims were from the same extended family and included 12 children, ages 2 to 16.
Meanwhile, the Libyan National Army forces [LNA], which has conducted airstrikes on Derna targets in the past months, denied any involvement in the attack in a televised statement, blaming "terrorists" and promising an investigation.
Medical sources said that no fighters were known to have been killed or injured in this attack.
"An aircraft bombs a Libyan city and kills 16 civilians, yet none of the warring parties accepts responsibility for the attack or names the intended military target," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
"Derna residents run the risk of repeat incidents unless authorities start making good on their promise to investigate and hold those responsible for unlawful attacks to account."
The LNA, under the command of Gen. Khalifa Hiftar, imposed a siege on Derna in August 2016 in an effort to drive out fighters from the militant alliance Derna Mujahideen Shura Council [DMSC].
The DMSC, which opposes the LNA, has controlled the city since participating in ousting Daesh [the Arabic acronym for terrorist ‘ISIS/ISIL' group], in April 2016.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
