No Result
View All Result
Thursday, July 3, 2025
23 °c
Tripoli
24 ° Sat
24 ° Sun
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Libya

Accusations over Derna bombing continue as condemnation grows

byMichel Cousins
November 1, 2017
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Accusations over Derna bombing continue as condemnation grows

Thousands attended the funerals yesterday of those killed in the air raids in Derna (Photo: Social media)

By Libya Herald reporter.

Thousands attended the funerals yesterday of those killed in the air raids in Derna (Photo: Social media)
Several thousand attended the funerals yesterday of those killed in the air raids in Derna (Photo: Social media)

Tunis, 1 November 2017:

Accusations of responsibility for Monday evening’s bombing raid on Derna in which at least 15 civilians died, including 12 women and children, are being levelled at both the Libya National Army (LNA) and the Egyptian air force. The accusations come as the ambassadors of France, Italy the UK and US today joined the chorus of condemnation of the attack, while the Presidency Council has declared three days of national mourning.

The accusation that Field Marshal Khalifa Hafter and the LNA carried out the airstrikes has come from the president of the State Council, Abdulrahman Sewehli, as well as from the Justice and Construction Party (J&C).

Describing the killings as a political watershed, Sewehli accused the “eastern command” – in other words the LNA – of responsibility. He called on the UN Security Council to meet in emergency session to decide on action in accordance with UN Resolution 1973.

RELATED POSTS

Following authentication of torture videos, UNSMIL reiterates importance of expediting investigation by Libyan Attorney-General into Derisi’s disappearance and torture

Following reports of military movements and escalating tensions in Tripoli and western region, UNSMIL calls on all parties to urgently de-escalate

Likewise calling for the UN to take action, the J&C labelled Hafter and the LNA as terrorists, accusing them of war crimes for targeting unarmed civilians.

In Egypt, however, although the country’s foreign ministry yesterday condemned “in the strongest terms” the incident, the online newspaper Mada Masr reported that it had been told by an Egyptian government source that the airstrikes were carried out by the Egyptian air force. The reason, according to the source, was to pre-empt plans by militants in Derna to cross into Egypt and carry out terror attacks there.

The Derna Mujahideen Shoura Council had already accused the Egyptians of carrying out the raids.

There have been previous attacks by the Egyptian air force. Last May, Cairo announced that it had carried out airstrikes on Derna in collaboration with the LNA, hitting strategically important sites held by the DMSC. The attack was in retaliation for the massacre of 28 Christians in central Egypt’s Minya province. Cairo claimed that it had been organised with the help of militants based in Derna. The town was also bombed in 2015 by the Egyptians in revenge for the Islamic State beheadings in Sirte of 21 Christians, 20 of them Egyptians.

Just last week, Egyptian planes hit a convoy of eight vehicles crossing the border from Libya into Egypt and which the air force said were carrying weapons and ammunition for terrorists. The Egyptians apparently believe that arms originated from Derna.

Monday’s raid followed the 21 October attack by terrorists in Egypt’s Western Desert in which 16 police and conscripts were killed.

In today’s joint statement condemning the air strikes, the four ambassadors also condemned the torture and summary execution of 36 men whose bodies were found in Al-Abyar last week, insisting that anyone suspected of carrying out such executions and torture, or who failed to prevent them, be investigated and put in trial. They also said that their governments would pursue “at the international level” anyone involved in human rights crimes.

This is seen as referring to possible arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court.

Italian foreign minister Angelino Alfano had already issued his own statement condemning the attack and demanding that humanitarian organisations be allowed access to the town to deal with the wounded and “relieve the suffering of the people”.

In its condemnation of the killings, the Presidency Council has announced three days national mourning. The DMSC-dominated Derna local council had already declared three days of mourning.

The killings and the humanitarian situation in Derna as a result of the LNA blockade were meanwhile one of the main subjects in discussions today between PC head Faiez Serraj and UN deputy special envoy Maria Ribeiro who is also the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Libya.

The number of casualties of Monday’s raid in which one or more private houses were hit, is still uncertain. While it is reported that at least fifteen people died, reports from Derna say that 20 civilians were killed and a further 23 wounded. Of the dead, all are said to have been children apart from two women and a man.

Tags: DernafeaturedKhalifa HafterLibyaLNAUNSMIL

Related Posts

Libya Herald exclusive: Responding to the prime minister’s call yesterday to the private sector and banks to do more, leading businessman Husni Bey responds
Business

Op-Ed: Reputational Damage Is Worse Than Losing Money

July 2, 2025
Libyan Russian Economic Forum starts in St. Petersburg
Libya

Libyan Russian Economic Forum starts in St. Petersburg

June 27, 2025
MoI establishes Elections Security and Protection Department
Libya

Aldabaiba and Menfi stress use of polling feedback to establish consensus basis for constitutional process: report and analysis

June 26, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

“There is no state built by gangs and criminality, it’s built by engineers, youth, consultants, security, police and army”: Aldabaiba

June 23, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

187 new security posts taken over from militias – PM declares victory for the state as all vital Tripoli sites come under its exclusive control for the first time since 2011

June 19, 2025
Interior Ministry’s Diplomatic Missions Protection personnel receiving training in Ukraine
Libya

The Interior Ministry had spent LD 50 billion in 13 years with no result: Acting Interior Minister Trabelsi

June 17, 2025
Next Post

Nine dead children in UNSMIL's October civilian body count

Monarchist conference in Gharyan calls on Prince Mohamed El-Senussi to take crown

Monarchist conference in Gharyan calls on Prince Mohamed El-Senussi to take crown

ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

  • Libyan Italian Forum concludes with the signing of 98 MoUs

    Libyan Italian Forum concludes with the signing of 98 MoUs

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • CBL reveals discovery of LD 3.5 billion in counterfeit 50-dinar notes printed in Russia – PM calls on Attorney General to open investigation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • First scheduled flight lands at Kufra airport – good news for Libya’s wider aviation sector

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Op-Ed: Reputational Damage Is Worse Than Losing Money

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Three Libyan companies win awards in Athens International Olive Oil Competition ‎

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

A 247,000-bpd oil production increase would achieve US$ 6 billion annually to enhance ability to meet FX demand, maintain strength of LD and achieve economic balance: CBL ‎

Op-Ed: Reputational Damage Is Worse Than Losing Money

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms below to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.