A leading Libyan human rights organisation has accused the Government of National Unity (GNU) of committing potential war crimes following a drone strike that killed two security officers and an African migrant. According to the National Institution for Human Rights in Libya (NIHRL), the strike, conducted by the Ministry of Defence, occurred in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2026 on a beach between Agelat and Sabratha. The victims—identified as Taher Hadia and Ali al-Banini of the Directorate Support Force—were reportedly intercepted by the drone while attempting to seize a boat used by human trafficking networks.
The NIHRL issued a stinging condemnation of the operation, categorising the use of “indiscriminate and excessive force” as a grave violation of international humanitarian law. The NGO dismissed the Ministry of Defence’s justification that such strikes are part of an anti-smuggling campaign, arguing instead that they undermine legitimate security agencies and increase the risk of fatalities at sea. The report also highlighted a disturbing pattern of aerial bombardments targeting civilian and security infrastructure in the coastal cities of Zawiya, Zuwara, and Sabratha.
In a push for legal accountability, the rights group called on the Attorney General and the Military Prosecutor to launch an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the deaths. The NIHRL further announced that it would submit a comprehensive dossier of forensic evidence to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the UN Panel of Experts, and the UN Security Council’s Sanctions Committee. The statement concluded with a demand for the strict protection of non-combatants, asserting that indiscriminate attacks on populated areas constitute crimes against humanity for which those responsible must be brought to justice.
