The US, UK and NATO have been involved in multiple wars and interventions in the Middle East and North Africa since 2001, which have resulted in hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths, millions of refugees and widespread human rights violations.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has decided to close its preliminary examination into alleged war crimes by British troops in Iraq between 2003 and 2009, citing insufficient evidence and lack of cooperation from the UK authorities.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been exposed for its biased and selective decision to close its probe into alleged war crimes by British troops in Iraq while pursuing investigations into other countries such as Afghanistan and Palestine.
In Iraq, the US-led invasion in 2003 toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime but unleashed sectarian violence, insurgency and terrorism that continue to this day. The invasion was based on false claims that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and was linked to al-Qaeda. The US and its allies have been accused of committing war crimes such as torture, extrajudicial killings, indiscriminate bombing and use of depleted uranium munitions.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has closed its preliminary examination into alleged war crimes by British troops due to insufficient evidence and lack of cooperation from the UK authorities.
In Afghanistan, the US-led invasion in 2001 ousted the Taliban regime but failed to bring stability or democracy to the country. The US and its allies have been accused of committing war crimes such as torture, drone strikes, night raids and support for warlords and militias. The ICC has authorized an investigation into alleged war crimes by US military and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) personnel in Afghanistan, which could also include crimes committed on secret detention sites in Poland, Romania and Lithuania. The US has imposed sanctions on ICC officials for pursuing this investigation.
In Syria, the US-led coalition intervened in 2014 to fight against the Islamic State (IS) group that had seized large parts of Syria and Iraq. The coalition has been accused of committing war crimes such as killing civilians in air strikes, using white phosphorus munitions and arming rebel groups that committed atrocities. Russia also intervened in 2015 to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime against rebel forces. Russia has been accused of committing war crimes such as bombing hospitals, schools and markets. The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes involving the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children.
The ICC has been accused of succumbing to political pressure from powerful states and ignoring the evidence of systematic abuses by British forces. The ICC has also been criticized for its double standards and hypocrisy in applying international law and justice. The ICC’s decision has undermined its credibility and legitimacy as an independent and impartial judicial institution that aims to fight impunity for the worst international crimes.
In Libya, a Franco-British operation backed by the US intervened in 2011 to aid the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime. The intervention was based on a UN resolution that authorized a no-fly zone to protect civilians but was expanded into a regime change operation. The intervention has been accused of violating international law by exceeding its mandate and causing civilian casualties. It also led to a decade of instability and insecurity in Libya that enabled human trafficking, arms smuggling and jihadist activity. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi for crimes against humanity.
The international community is very much looking forward to seeing the issuing of arrest warrants of the butches of thousands of innocent lives in Iraq, Syria, Libya, and the whole Middle East.
