Libya: 10 Khalifa Haftar killed in Saturday clashes

At least 10 Khalifa Haftar forces, including a commander, were killed on Saturday's clashes on the outskirts of Libyan capital Tripoli, according to a hospital linked to Haftar.

Since early April, Khalifa Haftar, commander of forces loyal to a rival government in eastern Libya, has been launching a campaign to capture Tripoli, where a UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) is headquartered.

The clashes between the Haftar forces and the GNA took place in al-Aziziyah and Ayn Zara districts of Tripoli.

According to the information gathered from the hospital by Anadolu Agency, Amir Buserade, one of the field commanders in Tripoli was among the killed.

Libya has remained beset by turmoil since long-serving leader Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a bloody NATO-backed uprising in 2011.

Since then, the country has seen the emergence of two rival seats of power: one in eastern Libya, to which Haftar is affiliated, and another in Tripoli, which enjoys UN recognition.

*Writing by Dilara Hamit from Ankara