‘Libya’s Khalifa Haftar should be declared a war criminal’

Libya’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Taha Siala slammed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) due to its lack of action on Khalifa Haftar, who is attempting to overthrow the Tripoli government, calling for the east Libyan commander to be prosecuted as a war criminal.

Haftar committed “crimes against humanity” when he bombed civilians in Zawiya and Tajoura two days ago, Siala said in a letter addressed to the council.

In April, Haftar’s forces launched a military campaign to capture Tripoli from the GNA but have so far failed to progress beyond the city’s outskirts.

“We cannot comprehend the helplessness of the UNSC in the face of attacks by Haftar’s forces targeting civilians and public facilities,” the letter published on the Volcano of Rage Operation center stated.

In a separate letter penned to International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Fatou Benhada, the foreign minister said:“With the bombing of the Institute of Applied Engineering near the Zawia refinery, Haftar’s forces are adding to their previous war crimes.”

He called for an investigation to be launched into Haftar’s crimes and necessary measures to punish the perpetrators before the international judiciary.

According to UN data, over 1,000 people have been killed since the start of the operation and more than 5,000 injured.

However, on Dec. 12, Haftar announced that he had ordered his militants to launch a “decisive battle” to capture the capital.

The GNA launched operation Burkan al-Ghadab (Volcano of Rage) to respond to the aggression.

Since the ouster of late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, two seats of power have emerged in Libya: one in eastern Libya supported mainly by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates and another in Tripoli, which enjoys UN and international recognition.