US warns against targeting civilian airports in Libya

BY Libyan Express Aug 20, 2019 - 14:14

New US ambassador to Libya Richard Norland. [Photo: Internet]

The U.S. Embassy in Libya expressed on Monday concern over attacks on civilian airports in western Libya, as the armed conflict between Libya’s UN-backed government and the rival eastern-based Khalifa Haftar’s forces continues.

“In my introductory conversations with leaders on all sides … I stressed that the United States sees great risk in the escalation of attacks on civilian airports, and if a civilian airliner were struck, this would be catastrophic,” U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, said.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya on Thursday denounced increasing attacks on airports in western Libya.

Haftar’s Air Force jets have struck Mitiga Airport and Zuwara Airport in western Libya more than once in the last few days, not to mention the tens of times they have struck Mitiga Airport in Tripoli since April 04, when Tripoli fighting started.

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