Al-Thani government admits to bombing Mitiga airport

Libya’s interim government began the aerial bombardment of the Mitiga International Airport, in the capital Tripoli, on Monday.

In a statement issued yesterday, the interim Libyan government, headed by Abdullah Al-Thani, said: “The air strikes on Mitiga airport were conducted by the national air force to target the group Libya Dawn.”

“The shelling by the Libyan Air Force of the Mitiga airport is a pre-emptive strike on groups of so-called Libya Dawn fighters, which were preparing ammunition, vehicles and aircrafts to strike the country’s infrastructure and facilities.”

It continued: “Previously, Libya Dawn destroyed the facilities and the civilian aircrafts which on the ground at Tripoli International Airport, and the homes and public and private installations in Qaser Bin Ghashir, near Tripoli International Airport, and also bombed Zintan airport.”

Al-Thani said: “What the Libyan government has done is part of its responsibility to protect the civilian population.”

Since Monday evening, Mitiga International Airport has witnessed air strikes from fighter jets, according to an official source and witnesses.

Retired Major General Khalifa Haftar’s forces had previously bombed the airport saying it was used for “terrorist purposes”.

In a statement, Mohammed Hijazi, Haftar’s spokesman said: “The military plane that targeted the airport today belonged to the Libyan army because this airport is used for terrorist purposes which pose a threat to the Libyan people.”

A week ago, the Libyan Council of Representatives in Tobruk announced it would officially recognise the “dignity” with which Haftar fought against what they called “extremists” in the country, and said it was a legitimate military operation.