The Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, mounted three airstrikes on the ‘military section’ of Mitiga airbase.
The strikes hit their targets with high precision, the LNA said.
Further, the Volcano of Rage operation led by the Government of National Accord (GNA) renewed charges against the army of launching attacks on Mitiga International Airport as part of “continuous targeting of infrastructure and airports.”
In a statement, the operation didn’t reveal if there were material or human losses but published photos of smoke rising from the airport.
The facility was shut down several times as a result of airstrikes carried out by the LNA, which accuses Sarraj’s government of using the airport for “military purposes” in addition to allowing Turkish drones to take off from there.
Mitiga International Airport is operating as an alternative for Tripoli International Airport that has been shut down since 2014.
Spokesman of the GNA Army Colonel Mohammad Qanunu declared earlier that its airforce conducted four airstrikes on Monday in El-Sbeaa and Suq Al Khamis, south of the capital Tripoli, targeting mercenaries and armored vehicles.
The UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) also said that drones from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) targeted Mitiga International Airport in the Libyan capital Tripoli,
“Emirati drones, supporters of the war criminal [Khalifa] Haftar, target Mitiga International Airport,” forces loyal to the GNA said on Facebook without elaborating on casualties or damages.
The forces considered the attack as “a continuation of the criminal record in targeting infrastructure and airports and a desperate attempt [of Haftar] to reimburse losses.”
The GNA has accused the UAE of supporting Haftar’s forces, which Abu Dhabi has previously denied on several occasions.
On September 2, operations were suspended in Mitiga International due to attacks by Haftar’s forces, while all flights were diverted to Misrata International Airport.
Haftar’s forces launched a campaign in April to capture Tripoli from Libya’s internationally recognized GNA.
Clashes between the two sides since then have left more than 1,000 dead and about 5,500 wounded, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The oil-rich country has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a NATO-backed uprising after four decades in power.
Libya has since seen the emergence of two rival seats of power: One in the east to which Haftar is affiliated, and the Tripoli-based GNA, which enjoys UN recognition.
