TRIPOLI, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The eastern-based army of Libya on Thursday announced targeting the Mitiga International Airport of the capital Tripoli and destroying two Turkish aircraft belonging to the UN-backed government's forces.
"The Air Force has attacked militia (UN-backed government's forces) strongholds in Tripoli and continues to hit drones' operation chamber, destroying two Turkish planes used by the Turks in their fight against our Armed Forces at Mitiga air base," the eastern-based army's information office said in a statement.
The UN-backed government's forces confirmed the airstrike on the airport, releasing images on their Facebook page of smoke rising from the airport.
Mitiga International Airport has been repeatedly targeted by the eastern-based army, which is accusing the rival UN-backed government of using it for military purposes.
The airport was closed recently by the local authorities following shelling that injured a few passengers and damaged an airplane.
Deadly armed conflict broke out in early April between the eastern-based army and the UN-backed government in and around Tripoli.
Thousands of lives were lost in the ongoing violence, and almost 120,000 civilians fled their homes away from the fighting.
Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos ever since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
