TUNIS — The United Nations Libya mission condemned a shelling attack on Thursday that it said killed four girls and young women hours after international pleas for a humanitarian pause to help with the fight against the coronavirus. It said in a tweet that the four, aged 14 to 20, as well as five others including an 11-year-old, were hit during "indiscriminate shelling affecting a civilian neighborhood in Ain Zara, reportedly by LNA forces". The eastern-based Libyan National Army of Khalifa Haftar has been fighting for nearly a year to capture Tripoli, seat of the internationally recognized Government of National Accord. Libya has not yet confirmed any cases of the coronavirus, but its center for disease control and the World Health Organization have warned that it is not prepared for an outbreak.

Source: International New York Times March 19, 2020 22:30 UTC