Libya govt planes strike key Haftar airbase

TRIPOLI: Libya´s UN-recognised government said its forces struck a desert airbase on Friday that has been a key staging post for the transport of troops and supplies by eastern-based strongman Khalifa Haftar.

Since April, the government has been battling an offensive against the capital by Haftar´s forces, who already control most of the far-flung oases and oilfields of the desert south as well as their eastern stronghold.

"The air force struck a gathering of mercenaries at the Al-Jufra base, destroying a hangar for drones belonging to a hostile country," on Friday night, government forces said on Facebook.

They said they also destroyed a munitions depot and hit an Ilyushin Il-76 military transport aircraft.

Pro-Haftar television channel Libya Al-Hadath confirmed the base had been attacked but gave no details.

Haftar´s self-styled Libyan National Army said it carried out air strikes of its own against multiple targets in third city Misrata, from which many of the government´s best equipped and most seasoned fighters are drawn.