UN denounces increasing attacks on civilian airports in W. Libya
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E-mail Xinhua, August 16, 2019
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Thursday denounced increasing attacks on civilian airports in western Libya.
"The UNSMIL deplores the ever-increasing and systemic attacks on airports in western Libya, including Zuwara and Mitiga. These attacks have endangered the lives of thousands of civilian travelers, including UN staff and humanitarian workers," the mission said in a statement.
"UNSMIL stresses that these attacks must cease immediately, and reiterates that airports used by civilians are not military targets," it added.
The UN mission also called for "all feasible precautions" to "protect the civilians in accordance with international human rights and humanitarian laws."
The UN-backed Libyan government has been engaged in a deadly armed conflict since early April in and around the capital Tripoli against the east-based army, which is trying to take over the city and overthrow the government.
A day earlier, the only functioning airport in Tripoli was attacked by indiscriminate shelling, which killed a worker and injuring another while causing material damage and disrupting flights, according to UNSMIL.
The army announced on Thursday that it targeted Zuwara airport in western Libya and destroyed two hangars for drones.
The army is allied with the east-based government, as the North African nation is politically divided between eastern and western governments.
Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos ever since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011.
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