Human Rights Watch has accused retired Libyan Major General Khalifa Hifter and his forces of disregarding civilian lives through indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.

It said Hifter's forces launched a series of unlawful airstrikes that caused civilian casualties, including an attack she described as a "violation of the laws of war" on a house in a residential area of ​​Tripoli on October 14, 2019 that killed three girls and wounded another sister and their mother.

She stressed that this attack on civilians was one of many that required an impartial and independent investigation to determine responsibility and hold officials accountable.

"General Hifter and his forces have repeatedly shown their disregard for civilian lives through indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure," said Eric Goldstein, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa division.

"There is an urgent need for an independent UN investigation to determine responsibility for these air strikes, ensure justice for war crimes and compensate the families of the victims," ​​he said.

Human Rights Watch said it had documented since April 4 other airstrikes by Hifter forces that killed or injured civilians and destroyed homes and civilian facilities, apparently without taking any measures against officials and without compensation or payments to civilians. These included a raid on a migrant detention center in Tajura in July that killed 46 civilians.