Haftar attack forces Libya's Mitiga airport to close

The management of the Mitiga Airport in the Libyan capital, Tripoli has released a statement that the airport was targeted during a Libyan Airlines' plane's takeoff on Feb. 17.

Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), maintained that Khalifa Haftar's militants were responsible for the attack.

According to HurriyetDailyNews , Mitiga, Libya's only civil airport, has been targeted various times by the Haftar militants.

A military source said the attack aimed at sabotaging celebrations to mark the 9th anniversary of Libyans' Feb. 17 Revolution, which ousted former ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

Update...

• 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 the UN recognition.