THE International Criminal Court (ICC) yesterday hit back at a decision by US President Donald Trump to authorise sanctions against any official investigating American troops over alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.

Trump earlier said Washington will block the US properties and assets of anyone from The Hague-based tribunal involved in probing into or prosecuting American troops.

“These attacks constitute an escalation and an unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law and the court’s judicial proceedings,” said ICC in a statement.

After a long-running legal process, the court in March said an investigation into the Afghan war can go ahead.

The Trump administration has been livid over the possibility of a probe into atrocities in Afghanistan, the US’ longest-running war.

But, ICC said the “unprecedented” sanctions “undermine our common endeavour to fight impunity and to ensure accountability for mass atrocities”.

“An attack on ICC also represents an attack against the interests of victims of atrocity crimes, for many of whom the court represents the last hope for justice.” – AFP, June 12, 2020.