This archive report was first published on 18 August 2019.
On August 16 and 17, 2019, Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) launched air strikes on Zuwara airport in western Libya, targeting a hangar allegedly housing Turkish drones and their ammunition.
The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), recognized by the UN, reported that a member of civil protection was wounded in the attack.
UNSMIL dispatched a delegation to Zuwara to investigate the LNA's allegations, which were later found to be baseless.
"After reviewing the airport's facilities and all the adjacent buildings, the assessment mission was able to confirm that neither military assets nor military infrastructure were observed at Zuwara Airport," a statement from UNSMIL said.
UNSMIL declared Zuwara airport a civilian facility and denounced the strike, which caused serious damage to the airport's infrastructure, including the runway.
"Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructures constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian and human rights law," UNSMIL said.
Haftar's forces have repeatedly targeted Tripoli's sole functioning airport, Mitiga, allegedly killing a guard and wounding several security agents in rocket fire earlier this month.
The fighting between Haftar's forces and the GNA has resulted in at least 1,093 deaths and 5,752 injuries since April, with over 120,000 people displaced, according to the World Health Organization.
