Tripoli military school airstrike
| Tripoli military school airstrike | |
|---|---|
| Part of Western Libya campaign of the Second Libyan Civil War | |
| Location | Al-Hadhba military school, Tripoli, Libya |
| Date | January 4, 2020 9 PM |
| Target | Cadets |
| Weapon | Blue Arrow 7 missile from a Wing Loong II drone |
| Deaths | 26 |
| Injured | 33 |
| Perpetrator | Libyan National Army (alleged, denied) United Arab Emirates (alleged, denied) |
On January 4, 2020, a missile strike was conducted on a military school used by the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, Libya during a siege of Tripoli by the Libyan National Army (LNA). Twenty-six people were killed and thirty-three were wounded.
The GNA blamed the LNA for the attack. The LNA denied involvement and blamed responsibility of the strike on shelling by militants. According to a BBC report, the drone strike was conducted by a United Arab Emirates controlled drone. The UAE denied involvement in the strike.
Prelude
The Libyan National Army, a rival government and faction that fought the UN-recognized Government of National Accord during the Second Libyan Civil War, launched an offensive against the GNA headquarters and Libyan capital of Tripoli in April 2019.[1] On December 12, 2019, LNA commander Khalifa Haftar announced the "final battle" for Tripoli, committing more forces to the city.[2] The LNA also increased its air presence around the city.[3] In the Hadhba neighborhood that same day, five civilians were killed by LNA bombings.[4]
Airstrike
Around 9pm on January 4, around 50 cadets of the GNA-affiliated Al-Hadhba military school were on a parade grounds, waiting to be sent back to their dormitories.[5] Most of the cadets were students between the ages of 18 and 22, from cities across Libya.[3] When the paramedics arrived, it was hard to discern and identify bodies due to many being charred.[3][1] Videos from Tripoli hospitals showed limbless cadets and bloodied floors.[6] The initial death toll of the attack reported by the GNA was sixteen killed and thirty-seven injured, but this rose to twenty-six killed and thirty-three injured.[7] A survivor of the attack stated he saw "guys whose torsos were separated from their bodies... and we couldn't do anything."[5]
Aftermath
According to a BBC report, the missile strike was conducted by a United Arab Emirates operated drone.[8] The missile was reported by BBC to be a Chinese Blue Arrow 7 missile fired from a Wing Loong II drone.[8][5] The United Arab Emirates denied involvement in the incident, stating the cadets were killed in a bombardment by local forces.[9]
Students who survived the attack urged international authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable for the airstrike in a statement given on the one-year anniversary of the airstrike.[10]
Reactions
- Government of National Accord: The GNA blamed the Libyan National Army and called to refer Khalifa Haftar to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.[3]
- Libyan National Army: A spokesperson for the LNA denied launching a strike on the military school and blamed the attack on Islamic militants.[11]
- United Arab Emirates: The UAE denied involvement in the incident, stating that the attack was conducted by local forces.[9]
- United Nations: UNSMIL condemned the attack.[3]
References
- ^ a b "Libya conflict: Tripoli military school suffers deadly air strike". 2020-01-04. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ "Libyan Commander Haftar orders forces to advance on Tripoli in 'final battle'". France 24. 2019-12-12. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ a b c d e "Dozens killed in attack on military academy in Libya's Tripoli". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ "Dozens killed in bombing of military academy in Libya". The Guardian. Reuters. 2020-01-05. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ a b c "UAE implicated in lethal drone strike in Libya". 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ "Deadly Airstrike in Libya Wreaks Havoc at Military Academy". The New York Times. 2020-01-04. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ "Libyan authorities report airstrike on military academy". PBS NewsHour. 2020-01-05. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ a b "UAE involved in drone strike that killed 26 Libyan cadets: Report". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ a b "UAE involved in attack that killed 26 cadets in Libya's Tripoli: report". i24 News. 28 August 2020.
- ^ "Libya marks first anniversary of Tripoli Military College attack | The Libya Observer". libyaobserver.ly. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ "Airstrike death toll in Libya's besieged capital rises to 30". Associated Press. 5 January 2020.