Second air raid on Libya's Mitiga airport

TRIPOLI, Nov 25 (KUNA) -- A Jetfighter of the retired major general Khalifa Haftar's forces launched Tuesday its second air raid in 24 hours on the opposition-held Mitiga air base in Tripoli.
In a statement to KUNA, Air Force Commander Brigadier Saqr Al-Jeroshi said that the fighter jets bombed the air base which turned to a civilian airport and became a base for terrorist groups.
Al-Jeroshi added that the raids are carried out upon orders from the General Staff of the Libyan Army, which has recently ordered the closure of Mitiga and Misrata airports as well as sea ports in west of the country.
He explained that the sea and air ports are controlled by terrorist groups and are used to bring in weapons and foreign fighters to fight against the Libyan people.
He vowed that the air raids will continue until restoring control over the capital Tripoli.
According to eyewitnesses, the raids targeted the Al-Radaa Forces, an Islamist militia, stationed at the airport.
Director of Mitiga Airport Abubakar Buhmaid told KUNA that the raid has not destroyed the airport, adding the operation was resumed later today.
According to news reports that army troops are moving towards Tripoli after regaining control over the town of Kikla (80 km southwest of Tripoli).
Prime Minister of so-called Government of National Salvation Omar Hassi said after the fall of Kikla there would be no dialogue but war and confrontation to eradicate "tyranny and injustice." Hassi government controls the capital Tripoli after its election by the outgoing General National Congress and the fall of Tripoli after a battle with the internationally-recognized government in the eastern city of Tobruk led by Abdullah Al-Theni.
More than three years after the ouster of former Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi, Libya is awash with weapons and powerful militias, and run by rival governments and parliaments.
Theni's government has been based in the remote east of the country since the militia takeover of the capital in August.
All three main cities -- Tripoli, Benghazi and Misrata -- are largely controlled by militias opposed to Theni's government. (end) nam.mm.ibi