New U.S. Lawsuit Targets Khalifa Haftar and Son Over War Crimes, Wagner Links in Libya

Watan-As retired Libyan general Khalifa Haftar works to strengthen his regional influence, the Libyan-American Alliance has announced a new lawsuit against him and his son Saddam Haftar at the U.S. Federal Court in Washington, D.C.—a move seen as a legal milestone after months of silence.

According to the alliance, Saddam Haftar was personally served notice while visiting Washington, meaning he is now legally obligated to respond in court at a later date.

The case was filed by the surviving member of a Libyan family whose relatives were killed during the Wagner-backed assault on Tripoli in 2019, carried out under the command of Khalifa Haftar and Saddam. The survivor, Mohammed, pursued the case with the support of the alliance and a team of Libyan legal experts.

The lawsuit targets:

• Khalifa Haftar (Libyan-American)

• Saddam Haftar (Libyan-American)

• Yevgeny Prigozhin, former Wagner chief (now deceased)

• Prigozhin’s son, who has taken over leadership of the group

The case accuses the Haftars of:

• War crimes

• Unlawful cooperation with Wagner—a foreign criminal organization sanctioned under U.S. law

• Murder, torture, and destruction of civilian life

Legal Significance

The lawsuit marks the first time Saddam Haftar has been directly served with legal documents while on U.S. soil. As a U.S. citizen, his collaboration with Wagner, a designated criminal entity, may constitute a federal offense under American law.

According to Dr. Essam Omeish, head of the Libyan-American Alliance:

“This case combines two serious violations—war crimes and collaboration with Wagner, which is illegal for any American citizen.”

Omeish also confirmed that three older cases against Khalifa Haftar—previously stalled in Virginia due to a judge’s dismissal—will be reopened on May 7, following a pending appeal. These include:

• 2016–2017 Benghazi massacres

• Airstrike on the Tripoli military college that killed 28 cadets

• Indiscriminate shelling and mass civilian killings

Political Implications

The new lawsuit is being closely watched in U.S. policymaking circles, especially regarding:

• How the U.S. government handles ties with Haftar

• The legal liability of supporting actors with U.S. nationality involved in foreign war crimes

• Enforcement of the Libya Stabilization Act, which prohibits American citizens from collaborating with entities like Wagner

In 2023, a Virginia federal judge dismissed earlier lawsuits citing jurisdictional uncertainty and political sensitivity, but plaintiffs and advocates are hopeful that the new Washington-based case—backed by strong evidence and direct service—will proceed.