TRIPOLI, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Fighter jets of Libya's UN-backed government on Saturday carried out five airstrikes against the east-based army in south of the capital Tripoli.
"The air force carried out five airstrikes on positions of Khalifa Haftar's army in southern Tripoli," Mostafa al-Meji, spokesman of the government forces, told Xinhua.
"The situation on ground is relatively calm except an attempt by Haftar's forces to progress in the airport's road axis," al-Meji said.
"The attempt of Haftar's forces to progress in the airport's road axis has been stopped and they suffered great losses," the spokesman added.
Tripoli has been witnessing a military conflict between the east-based army and the government's forces over the control of the city since early April.
The World Health Organization said that the fighting so far has killed 454 people, injured 2,154 others, and displaced nearly 60,000 civilians.
Libya has been suffering escalating violence and political instability ever since the fall of late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
