The aftermath of a reported air strike on a factory, south of the Libyan capital Tripoli
TRIPOLI, Nov 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least seven civilians, including a Bangladesh national, were killed and 30 injured in an air strike that hit a biscuit factory in southern Tripoli, Libya’s health ministry said.
Ministry spokesman Amin al-Hachemi said that two Libyans and nationals from Bangladesh, Egypt and Niger died when the factory in Wadi Rabi, a suburb at the centre of fighting for control of the capital, took a direct hit.
Pictures posted by the authority showed several wounded people in bloodstained civilian clothes lying on beds in ambulances or medical facilities.
The suburb has been at the centre of an assault launched in April by east-based Khalifa Haftar’s forces to wrest control of the capital from fighters loyal to the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA).
The offensive by his Libyan National Army (LNA) quickly stalled, and both sides, drawing on foreign support, have used drones and fighter jets to carry out air strikes amid sporadic fighting.
LNA air strikes have repeatedly hit civilian areas in Tripoli. Officials in eastern Libya said they had no information about an air strike by their forces.
Since 2014, Libya has been split between rival political and military groupings based in Tripoli and the east.
Haftar has received backing from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia, as well as fluctuating support from some Western powers.
Last week the United States called on the LNA to halt its offensive on Tripoli, warning against Russian interference.
The conflict in and around Tripoli has killed and wounded hundreds of civilians and displaced more than 120,000. — NNN-AGENCIES
