国际英语新闻:Libya's east-based army launches airstrikes around capital

TRIPOLI, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Libya's east-based army on Tuesday launched airstrikes on the forces of the rival UN-backed government in the cities of Sirte and Gharyan.

"The air force launched an airstrike on a gathering of the militias (UN-backed government forces) inside the Abu-Moad camp in Gharyan. Another airstrike hit the gate of Al-Reeh (near Gharyan)," the east-based army's information office said in a statement.

Gharyan, located some 80 km south of the capital Tripoli, has been taken over by the UN-backed government forces from the east-based army late in June.

The statement also said that the air force launched an airstrike on the UN-backed government forces in Sirte, some 450 km east of Tripoli, targeting a military camp used to store weapons and equipment.

The statement did not reveal any details about casualties.

Tripoli, home to more than two million people, has been witnessing a deadly armed conflict since early April between the UN-backed government and the east-based army, which is attempting to take over the city and topple the UN-backed government.

The fighting killed and injured thousands of people, and also displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians away from their homes.

Libya has been plagued by insecurity and political instability ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.