TRIPOLI — Unidentified war planes attacked positions of an armed faction in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Saturday, residents and local media said. Ten people were killed and dozens wounded, said a spokesman for Operation Dawn, an umbrella of Islamist-leaning forces mainly from Misrata which has been trying to expel brigades from Zintan, also located in western Libya. Residents heard loud explosions early in the morning near the main airport where two groups have been fighting for control of the capital for more than one month. Local channel Al-Nabaa said the planes had attacked four positions of Operation Dawn. Buildings of state oil firm Al-Waha located near the airport road were also hit, said Mohamed Gharyani, spokesman for Operation Dawn.
Forces of renegade Gen. Khalifa Haftar who has launched a military campaign against Islamists in the eastern city of Benghazi claimed the attack, one of his commanders told Reuters.
He had already said his forces carried out air strikes on Monday on positions of Operations Dawn, although some analysts have expressed doubt whether the aging Libyan air force is able too carry out such strikes. The North African oil producer has been in chaos as the weak government is unable to control former rebel factions which helped topple Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 but have now turned their guns on each other.
Meanwhile, a wooden boat with around 170 African migrants on board trying to reach Europe has sunk off the Libyan coast, a spokesman for the Libyan navy said on Saturday.
Migrants have been streaming out of North Africa in rickety boats in rising numbers for years. So far in 2014, the total number reaching Italian shores has passed 100,000, the Italian government said this week. “The coast guards have rescued 17 of the illegal migrants,” navy spokesman Ayoub Qassem said. A search for the rest of the passengers was under way, he added. The boat sank near Qarabouli, east of Tripoli, a common launchpad used by human traffickers smuggling people to Europe, Qassem said. Italy has borne the brunt of patrolling the Mediterranean Sea to help prevent major tragedies involving migrants. More than 70,000 people have been rescued through the “Mare Nostrum” (Our Sea) mission of patrols which Italy began last October. — Reuters
