Libya: 3 UN-recognized government troops killed

TRIPOLI

Three military personnel were killed and another 14 injured on Friday in an airstrike on forces of Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA).

The airstrike by East Libya-based commander Khalifa Haftar targeted GNA forces in As-Saddadah area southeast of capital Tripoli, according to Mustafa al-Majei, a GNA forces spokesman.

Misrata Medical Center confirmed the casualties as well in a statement shared on its Facebook page.

In a related development, GNA forces announced targeting Haftar forces in Tripoli's southern area of Wadi Rabie, without elaborating.

Since early April, forces loyal to Haftar have been launching a campaign to capture Tripoli from the GNA forces.

Clashes between the two sides since then have left more than 1,000 people dead and about 5,500 wounded, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a bloody NATO-backed uprising after four decades in power.

The oil-rich country has since seen the emergence of two rival seats of power: one in eastern Libya, with which Haftar is affiliated, and the Tripoli-based GNA, which enjoys UN recognition.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat