In a report published by the UN, it was stated that between 2016 and 2020, evidence was found that war crimes were committed against civilians in Tarhuna, south of Tripoli.
Mohamed Auajjar, Head of the UN Commission of Inquiry, stated that as a result of the investigation, some third states and local actors committed war crimes in violation of international law. Auajjar added that the names of the people involved in the aforementioned crimes will not be disclosed yet.
While stating that the UN Security Council called on them to expand the investigation, Auajjar announced that they would initiate the legal process by identifying the people involved in crime in the region since 2016.
The city of Tarhuna, which was located in a crucial position during the invasion attempt launched against the Libyan capital Tripoli in April 2019 by the leader of the eastern militia forces, Khalifa Haftar, was liberated from Haftar’s forces in June 2020.
The Kaniyat family, which had control of the city until the latter date, was involved in numerous war crimes and human rights violations. Many mass graves were found after Haftar troops were driven out of the city. More than 110 bodies have been found thus far, and more are found during ongoing excavations.
