This archive report was first published on 11 August 2019.
On August 10, 2019, a devastating car bomb explosion rocked the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, claiming the lives of three UN staff members and two other mission members, according to the United Nations.
The attack occurred as the UN was brokering a truce in the capital Tripoli, where the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) force launched a surprise attack in April, amidst the chaos in Libya since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, with his spokesman releasing a statement on Saturday.
"The U.N. does not intend to evacuate from Libya," Assistant Secretary-General for Peace Operations Bintou Keita later told the Security Council, which also condemned the attack.
The UN provided limited details, stating that some of its casualties were members working in Benghazi, where its Libya mission had been increasing its presence recently.
LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari revealed that two of those killed were guards with the UN Libya mission (UNSMIL), and that 10 people had been wounded, including children.
The explosion occurred in front of a shopping mall and bank, with at least one burned-out UN car visible at the scene.
The LNA had yet to advance beyond the southern suburbs of Tripoli, which is home to the internationally recognized government.
At the time of the blast, LNA commander Khalifa Haftar announced a halt to military operations for 48 hours during the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, which started on Saturday, according to a statement from his forces in Benghazi.
However, it was unclear whether fighting in the capital would actually cease, with over 105,000 people displaced during the clashes, according to the United Nations.
