At least 40 people were killed and more than 60 others wounded in a drone strike carried by warlord Khalifa Haftar’s air force on Murzuk town, south Libya, on Sunday.

Media outlets loyal to Haftar claimed they had targeted “Chadian mercenaries”, a label they use to describe Tabu tribe which is at odds with the warlord.

Local activists posted a video on social media showing bodies of the victims after the airstrike.

The Tripoli-based Presidential Council has strongly condemned the airstrike and held Haftar’s militia groups responsible for the horrific crime.

In a statement, the Presidential Council demanded the UN mission in Libya to set up a probe into Haftar’s crimes in Murzuk.

The southern town of Murzuk has descended into tribal unrest after the invasion of warlord Khalifa Haftar’s armed groups to southern Libya early this year before retreating to Tripoli leaving behind a security vacuum and tribal clashes between pro and anti-Haftar residents of the south.