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LIBYA-CONFLICT
At least 28 dead in raid on Tripoli military school: ministry
TRIPOLI, Jan 5, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – At least 28 people were killed and dozens
injured on Saturday in an air strike on a military school in the Libyan
capital Tripoli, a ministry spokesman said.
“An air raid on the military school of Tripoli killed 28 cadets and injured
dozens more,” Amin al-Hashemi, spokesman for the health ministry of the
Government of National Accord (GNA) said.
At the time of the strike the cadets were gathered on a parade ground
before going to their dormitories, he added.
The military school is in al-Hadba al-Khadra, a residential sector of the
Libyan capital.
The GNA health ministry called for blood donors to go to hospitals and
blood banks to help those injured.
The southern part of Tripoli has seen fierce fighting since last April,
when military strongman Khalifa Haftar began an offensive against the GNA.
Libya was plunged into chaos with the toppling and killing of longtime
dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a 2011 NATO-backed uprising. It has since become
divided between the GNA and rival authorities based in the country’s east.
GNA forces accused those loyal to Haftar of the strike, posting photos of
the victims and the wounded on Facebook.
However, pro-Haftar forces have not claimed responsibility for the attack.
More than 280 civilians and more than 2,000 fighters have been killed since
the start of Haftar’s assault on Tripoli, according to the United Nations.
The fighting has also displaced some 146,000 people.
The UN Security Council last month renewed its calls for a ceasefire in
Libya, and urged foreign actors to honour an arms embargo on the country —
which Jordan, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates have regularly violated,
according to a confidential UN report seen by AFP.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0824 hrs