UN working on guarantees for resuming flights at Tripoli’s Mitiga Airport
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The UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame has reiterated that United Nations Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) is going to file a case at the International Criminal Court (ICC), Security Council and UN Sanctions Committee on Libya about the attacks on Tripoli’s Mitiga Airport.
Salame’s remarks came in a joint press conference with the Libyan Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha and Minister of Transportation Milad Matouq to talk about the status of Mitiga Airport, which suspended flights till a further notice in the wake of numerous attacks.
Salame insisted that a civilian airport like Mitiga cannot be under such terror constantly. He added it is illegal to target places where civilians are present. “It is a war crime that cannot go unpunished. We will investigate the attacks; the source and type of weapons used, who launched the shells and we will continue till we get answers.” Salame told reporters.
He indicated that the Saturday indiscriminate shelling on Mitiga Airport could have killed hundreds whether aboard the plane, which was hit, or on the runway or in the waiting lounge, adding that the case will be sent to all Security Council member states and the ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.
He added that he returned from Cairo to Tripoli and landed in Mitiga Airport to send a message that the airport mustn’t be attacked, saying that its closure harms most Libyans, especially those who live in Greater Tripoli District and that UNSMIL will do its best to get assurances that the airport will resume flights.
