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Haftar forces admit to Libya migrant camp airstrike

04 July 2019 17:02 (UTC +04:00)

East Libya-based forces on Thursday admitted to carrying out an airstrike on a migrant camp that left dozens dead, APA reports citing Anadolu Agency.

At least 44 people were killed and 130 others injured on Tuesday in an airstrike on a migrant detention center in the Tajoura suburb of the country's capital, Tripoli.

The location "is actually a base of a military brigade and arms depot," spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari said late Wednesday at a press conference in Benghazi.

Al-Mismari added that this was not the first of such attack on what he described a "legitimate target", claiming the camps had previously been a base for Government of National Accord (GNA) forces.

"We've repeatedly targeted it with airstrikes and artillery," the spokesman said, adding: "In this case, the main responsible ones are those who brought illegal immigrants here."

The Tripoli-based GNA blamed the airstrike on commander Khalifa Haftar's forces.