UN-backed Libyan gov’t forces attack eastern-based army in southwestern Libya

9 May (Xinhua) TRIPOLI : The UN-backed Libyan government’s forces on Saturday said it launched airstrikes on a military air base of the rival eastern-based army in southwestern Libya, killing and injuring more than 70 soldiers.

“The air force launched six airstrikes on Friday in and around Watya air base (some 140 km southwest of the capital Tripoli) as well as its supply lines,” Mohamed Gonono, spokesman of the UN-backed government’s forces, said in a statement earlier Saturday.

“The airstrikes targeted military vehicles, killed and injured more than 70 members of the militias of Haftar (commander of eastern-based army),” the statement said.

The eastern-based army has not commented on the airstrikes yet. The eastern-based army, led by General Khalifa Haftar, has been attempting to take over the capital Tripoli from the UN-backed government for more than a year.

The fighting killed and injured hundreds of civilians and displaced more than 150,000 others.