A government soldier is seen in southern Tripoli, Libya, April 8, 2019. The Libyan government has launched a military campaign against the eastern-based army of Khalifa Haftar that attacked the capital Tripoli, said a spokesman on Sunday. (Xinhua)
TRIPOLI, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan government has launched a military campaign against the eastern-based army of Khalifa Haftar that attacked the capital Tripoli, said a spokesman on Sunday.
"Our armed forces are launching the campaign Borkan Al-Ghadab (volcano of anger) to clear the capital and all Libyan cities from aggressors," said Mohamed Gonono, spokesman of the forces of the UN-backed Libyan government, at a press conference in the capital city.
Haftar launched a military campaign on Thursday to take over western Libya, particularly Tripoli.
According to the Ministry of Health, the clashes killed at least seven people and injured 55 others on Friday and Saturday.
"Tripoli and other western cities have been attacked by Khalifa Haftar's forces, a failed attempt to overthrow the legitimate government. The time of the attack coincided with preparations to hold the national conference, which represents hope for all Libyans to solve the political crisis," Gonono said.
Meantime, a statement by the army's information office said that "fighter jets of the Libyan air force attacked the suburbs of Tripoli where armed militias (government forces) are stationed. The attacks hit the targets very accurately."
The army's information office said the airstrike was carried out after the "militias used heavy weapons and threatened the lives of civilians."
Haftar is allied with the eastern-based government, as the country is politically divided between western and eastern governments.
Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos, ever since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011.
