US judge dismisses lawsuits against Libyan commander facing war crimes allegations

In a surprising turn of events, a U.S. judge has dismissed a series of civil lawsuits against Libyan military commander Khalifa Hifter, who was accused of committing war crimes in his home country. Despite having U.S. citizenship and living in Virginia for over two decades, Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that she did not have jurisdiction over the case involving alleged atrocities in Libya.

Hifter, a former lieutenant to dictator Moammar Gadhafi, defected to the U.S. in the 1980s and later returned to Libya to support anti-Gadhafi forces. He led the self-styled Libyan National Army during the country’s civil war, with backing from countries like Russia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. Despite the allegations against him, Hifter denied orchestrating attacks against civilians during two depositions in 2022 and 2023.

The lawsuits, filed in 2019, claimed that Hifter’s army conducted military bombardments in civilian areas, resulting in the deaths of family members of the plaintiffs. While the cases were dismissed on jurisdictional grounds, some lawyers representing the plaintiffs plan to appeal the ruling.

Hifter’s lawyer, Paul Kamenar, defended his client, stating that he is not the ruthless figure portrayed in the media. However, Mark Zaid, another lawyer involved in the case, expressed disappointment in the court’s decision, emphasizing the need for accountability for U.S. citizens who commit war crimes abroad.

The legal battle surrounding Hifter’s alleged actions highlights the complexities of holding individuals accountable for atrocities committed in foreign conflicts and raises questions about the limits of jurisdiction in such cases.