A U.S. District Judge in Alexandria, Virginia, has dismissed a series of civil lawsuits against Khalifa Hifter, a former Libyan military commander accused of war crimes during the country's civil war. Despite Hifter's U.S. citizenship and long-term residency in Virginia, the judge ruled that she lacked jurisdiction over the case involving alleged atrocities committed in Libya.
The ruling marks a significant turn of events for Hifter, who faced default judgment in 2022 for failing to participate in depositions related to the accusations. However, after retaining new legal representation, Hifter cooperated in depositions conducted in 2022 and 2023, denying any involvement in attacks against civilians.
Hifter, a former lieutenant to Moammar Gadhafi, defected to the U.S. in the 1980s and later returned to Libya in 2011 to support anti-Gadhafi forces. He led the Libyan National Army during the civil war, controlling the eastern region with backing from countries like Russia, Egypt, and the UAE.
The lawsuits, filed in 2019, alleged that Hifter's army conducted military bombardments in civilian areas resulting in the deaths of plaintiffs' family members. Despite claims of significant property ownership in Virginia by Hifter's family, the cases were dismissed on jurisdictional grounds.
Hifter's lawyer emphasized his client's denial of involvement in civilian deaths, countering portrayals of him as a ruthless figure. Plaintiffs' attorneys expressed intent to appeal the dismissal, citing concerns over a U.S. citizen avoiding accountability for alleged war crimes abroad.
During the legal proceedings, Hifter sought immunity as a head of state, and the judge briefly halted the cases amid fears of potential interference in Libyan presidential elections, in which Hifter was a candidate.
The court's decision to dismiss the lawsuits has sparked debate among legal experts, with some questioning the jurisdictional basis for the ruling and the implications for civil accountability in cases of alleged war crimes committed by U.S. citizens overseas.
