Libya's east-based army says launches 13 airstrikes around gov't air base

Airstrikes

TRIPOLI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Libya's east-based army on Sunday launched 13 airstrikes around the Misurata air base belonging to the UN-backed government.

A total of "13 airstrikes by our air force destroyed an ongoing project of a Turkish base around the Misurata air college," the east-based army's information office said in a statement.

The statement, however, did not reveal details about possible human casualties.

Social media showed footage of rockets falling near Misurata air base.

The UN-backed government has been engaged in a deadly armed conflict since early April in and around the capital Tripoli against the east-based army, which is trying to take over the city and overthrow the government.

The east-based army is allied with the east-based government, as the North African nation is politically divided between eastern and western governments.

Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos ever since the fall of former late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011.