Tripoli: An air raid on riding stables near the Libyan capital Tripoli has wounded at least six people, including children, sparking condemnation from the United Nations and the unity government.
An African worker was also among the six people wounded in Sunday’s attack on the equestrian club in the Tripoli suburb of Janzour, a hospital source said.
Libya’s UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) and the UN mission in the North African country UNSMIL both accused forces of strongman Khalifa Haftar of being behind the attack.
Ahmad al-Mismari, spokesman for pro-Haftar forces who control eastern Libya, denied “any responsibility”.
The GNA denounced “the cowardly air strike carried out by the war criminal (Haftar) and his militias against an equestrian club in Janzour,” a suburb east of Tripoli.
UNSMIL condemned a “horrific attack” it said was carried out “by General Haftar’s forces”.
The UN mission said it dispatched a team to investigate and they were “able to confirm that a fighter jet dropped four unguided bombs” on the riding stable.
UNSMIL described the club as a “civilian facility” where there are no “military assets or infrastructure”.
Pictures posted on social networks showed the faces of frightened children, a boy receiving first aid as well as wounded horses lying on the ground.
Haftar launched an offensive to capture Tripoli, seat of the GNA, in April but since then frontlines have barely shifted.