At least 17 civilians have been killed in the past two weeks in a large-scale operation launched in early May by forces in eastern Libya's powerful man, Khalifa Haftar, to take control of Derna, a city controlled by Islamists and jihadists. the UN on Friday.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Libya (MANUL) said in a statement that "the escalation of fighting in Derna has reached an unprecedented level last week", with the conflict "spreading more and more in densely populated areas".
"Since May 16," MANUL continued, "at least 17 civilians, including two children, have been killed and 22 others, including seven children, wounded in the fighting" in the city, a stronghold of radical Islamists historically and the only urban center in eastern Libya not controlled by General Haftar's forces.
Seven of the victims were killed on Wednesday "in an explosion as they tried to leave the city," said MANUL, which called on the protesters to "take all necessary precautions to protect civilians" in Derna.
General Haftar, who has founded the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LES), ordered an operation on May 7th to "liberate" the 150.000-strong coastal city, 1.000 kilometers from Tripoli, which is controlled by another alliance of Islamist and jihadist organizations after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
LES, which has been besieging the city for almost two years, is advancing, with its ground forces backed by airstrikes and heavy artillery.
Since the fall of Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been plunged into chaos and a myriad of paramilitary groups changing who they swear allegiance to in their best interests, as well as jihadist organizations, including the Islamic State (IS). they contributed to chaos, a climate of chronic insecurity, a lack of strong central government and political divisions.
Haftar is backed by political forces based in eastern Libya, where the unrecognized government opposes the National Unity Government (KNU), based in Tripoli and backed by the international community and the UN.