TRIPOLI

Libya's Mitiga Airport in capital Tripoli was shut Tuesday after being struck by warplanes for the second time within less than 24 hours, an airport official has said.

The official, requesting anonymity, told The Anadolu Agency that an unidentified warplane had fired three rockets at the airport.

He added, however, that the attack had not resulted in any casualties or material damage.

Black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky above the airport following Tuesday's bombings, which followed a similar attack on Monday evening.

Following Monday evening's strikes, the Dawn of Libya umbrella militia group announced that it had seized the Al-Watia military airbase – located some 170km west of Tripoli – following clashes with forces loyal to former army chief Khalifa Haftar, which in recent months have fought Islamist militias in Benghazi and Tripoli.

"We rallied our forces after receiving information that the warplane that struck Mitiga airport had come from Al-Watia," Dawn of Libya spokesman Sabri Kashada told AA.

He added that limited clashes between Dawn of Libya militiamen and pro-Hafter forces remained ongoing around the perimeter of the Al-Watia airbase.

Monday's airstrikes hit one of Mitiga Airport's runways, as well as a house, residents of which were seriously injured, according to earlier statements by airport officials.

Mitiga was the only functioning airport in Tripoli after the capital's main airport was destroyed in August during clashes between rival militias.

Earlier this month, Libya's military command – appointed by the Tobruk-based House of Representatives – provided the Al-Watia military airport with fighter jets.

In August and September, unidentified warplanes bombarded several sites in western Libya associated with the Dawn of Libya.

At the time, militant leaders had accused both Egypt and the United Arab Emirates of launching the airstrikes, although both countries later denied any involvement in the attacks.

Libya has been dogged by political instability since the 2011 ouster and death of long-ruling strongman Muammar Gaddafi.

Ever since, rival militias have frequently locked horns, often bringing violence to the country's main cities, especially Benghazi and capital Tripoli.

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