Report: NATO Warships Shell Red Crescent Building in Misrata

NATO Says Warships Were Firing at Govt Ground Troops Along Coast

Unconfirmed reports from Libyan state television have reported that NATO warships fired shells into the city of Misrata today, damaging a Red Crescent building in the mostly rebel-held town.

The number of casualties was unclear. The strike was apparently an accident, as NATO confirmed that warships fired on Libyan government ground troops in the city earlier in the day.

The Red Crescent has been largely responsible for the distribution of food and medical aid in Misrata during a siege of the city by regime forces. UN has intermittently delivered food aid via sea route into the city, but has said lately that the fighting has kept the aid out.

NATO forces have been hitting Libya with air strikes and naval shelling since March. The forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi control most of the West of the nation, while rebels hold the East, with a capital city in Benghazi.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.