Tragic Discovery: Mass Grave Unearthed in Sirte

A mass grave containing 24 unidentified bodies was found in Sirte, Libya, a city once controlled by ISIS. The National Authority for Searching and Identifying Missing People recovered most of the bodies under destroyed buildings. The bodies were moved to a cemetery after forensic examination.

A mass grave containing 24 unidentified bodies was discovered in Sirte, Libya, by a government agency, the National Authority for Searching and Identifying Missing People, on Monday. The grave, located in the al-Kambo neighborhood, yielded 17 of the bodies from rubble of destroyed buildings.

The origin of the mass grave remains unclear, but Sirte was an Islamic State stronghold until U.S.-backed forces drove the militants out in December 2016. IS had taken advantage of the chaos in Libya following the 2011 overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi's regime.

The forensic medicine department collected DNA samples from 59 unidentified bodies, though it's not confirmed if these include those found in Sirte. Photos from the authority showcased buried remains and the forensic examination process. The bodies have since been relocated to a local cemetery in Sirte.

In recent years, numerous mass graves have been discovered throughout Libya, reflecting the ongoing political and militant conflicts. Earlier this March, a mass grave with 65 migrant bodies was found in western Libya by the UN migration agency. Libya remains a hazardous route for migrants attempting to reach Europe via the Mediterranean.

(With inputs from agencies.)