| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa North |
| Tripoli airport hit by severe attack from Islamist militia |
| 2014-07-14 |
| [THEGUARDIAN] Islamist-led militias launched an attack on Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... 's international airport on Sunday against units allied to Khalifa Haftar, the former general who has vowed to defeat the jihadis. Buildings and fuel tanks were set ablaze by artillery, rocket and anti-aircraft fire in the worst fighting seen in the Libyan capital since the 2011 revolution. Thick plumes of smoke rose into the sky and staff and passengers huddled for safety inside airport buildings as battles left at least six dead and 25 maimed. TV footage showed vehicles on fire after rockets struck the car park. Smoke swirled around planes abandoned on the tarmac. All flights to and from the airport have been cancelled. The airport is held by militias from the mountain town of Zintan, allied with Haftar, whose forces, backed by sections of the air force, have been battling Islamist brigades in eastern Libya for several weeks. The attack marks a significant widening of the struggle between Haftar and his opponents. "It is not good, not good, people are just staying at home, waiting to see what happens," said Tripoli resident Abu Baker. The US appealed for calm, with US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki warning: "The United States is deeply concerned by the ongoing violence in Libya and dangerous posturing that could lead to widespread conflict." In London, the Foreign Office minister for the Middle East, Hugh Robertson, urged all sides to begin dialogue, saying: "The violence that has broken out around Tripoli international airport is deeply concerning." |
| Posted by:Fred |