Clashes continue in the Libyan capital Tripoli, despite mounting international and Western condemnation of the killing of civilians and the targeting of medical facilities.
Head of the Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj received Turkish Ambassador to Libya, Serhat Aksen, in his office in Tripoli.
The meeting reviewed the two countries’ relations, in addition to the situation in Tripoli.
Ambassador Serhat renewed Turkey’s support for the GNA and its position in defense of Tripoli and expressed his country's condemnation of attacks on civilian installations.
Sarraj, who considers himself the supreme commander of the Libyan army, discussed with commander of the counter-terrorism force General Mohamed al-Zain measures taken to prevent terrorist organizations from exploiting the current situation resulting from the attack on Tripoli.
The two also discussed coordination between the anti-terrorism force and the various security agencies, in addition to the requirements for pursuing the terrorist organizations.
The United Nations Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced that Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Ghassan Salame met with Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar in his eastern Libya Rajma headquarters.
UNSMIL reports that they “discussed the latest developments in Libya and ways to return to a state of peace and dialogue.”
Haftar did not comment on the meeting, but sources close to him told Asharq Al-Awsat that he had no intention of putting an end to the military operations launched in April to liberate Tripoli from pro-Sarraj’s government militias.
The British Embassy in Libya condemned the airstrike that targeted a field hospital in Tripoli killing five doctors and injuring eight others on Saturday.
“Strongly condemn reported targeting of civilians in the field hospital South of Tripoli. Civilians including aid, health workers, and civilian infrastructure as hospitals and schools are not a target. All military escalation must stop immediately to prevent further losses of lives,” the embassy tweeted.
The Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. in Libya Berangere Boell-Yousfi strongly condemned the disgraceful shelling on al-Alamain school and Az-Zawiyah Field Hospital in airport road area, depriving thousands of people of accessing basic services.
Four doctors and one paramedic were killed and eight medical personnel were wounded.
Since the beginning of the conflict in April, 37 attacks have been registered on health personnel and facilities, resulting in 11 deaths, 33 injuries, and 19 ambulances directly or indirectly impacted.
According to a spokesman for a local hospital in Tripoli, five doctors were killed and at least eight paramedics injured on Saturday by an airstrike on a field hospital run by the Sarraj government.
The Libyan National Army denied Sarraj accusations of targeting an ambulance in Wadi al-Rabea, killing one paramedic from Misrata.
Hospital spokesman Malik Mersit said the hospital provided medical assistance to allied forces with Sarraj government.
