Unidentified warplanes carried out air-strikes on a small arms depot and other targets controlled by Islamist militias in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, Aug. 18. At least six were killed in the strikes. The strikes were beyond the capacity of the limited Libyan Air Force, and Libyan authorities said the planes had come from a foreign state. The US, France, Italy and Egypt all denied responsibility. Also hit in the raid were camps along the road to Tripoli's airport, which is contested by rival militias. Another target was Tripoli's Mitiga air base, also controlled by Islamists. At least 100 have been killed in fighting in Tripoli over the past month. (NYT, Xinhua, Aug. 19)
Amnesty International meanwhile decried a video published on social media showing an execution-style killing by an armed group at a football stadium in the eastern city of Derna. The public execution of an Egyptian national was apparently carried out by an armed group called the Shura Council of Islamic Youth. "This unlawful killing realizes the greatest fears of ordinary Libyans, who in parts of the country find themselves caught between ruthless armed groups and a failed state," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director. (AI, Aug. 22)
Did Egypt bomb Tripoli?
Algeria has denied it; Egypt apparenty has not. And Ahmed Hadiya of the Dawn of Libya coalition of Islamist militia has directly accused Egypt, saying the militias reserve the right to retaliate. He didn't elaborate. (AP)
Islamists take Tripoli airport
Operation Dawn, a coalition of Islamist and Misrata forces, took control of Tripoli's airport on Aug. 23 after a five-week siege. The following day they set airport buildings ablaze, apparently intending to destroy rather than hold the site. The coalition has declared its own government and is advacing into the capital. Libya's official parliament, exiled in the eastern city of Tobruk, branded Dawn a "terrorist organization" and announced a state of war against the group. (The Guardian)
US: UAE bombed Libya
The United Arab Emirates has secretly carried out air-strikes against militias in Libya using bases in Egypt, according to US officials. The United States did not take part or provide any assistance in the bombing raids, two US officials said on Aug. 25. "The UAE carried out those strikes," one of the officials told AFP news agency on condition of anonymity, confirming a report in the New York Times. (Al Jazeera)