More than 300 have been killed and about 2,000 others were wounded in the ranks of forces allied with the Government of National Accord (GNA) in the clashes of Tripoli, Interior Minister Fathy Bashagha announced Sunday.
Earlier, the city was hit by several air raids by the Libyan National Army (LNA) on Saturday night, killing four people and wounded 20 others, the GNA said.
A pro-GNA military source told AFP that the airstrike victims were civilians.
“Several sites were targeted by airstrikes late Saturday night, causing victims among civilians,” the source said. “Most of the strikes hit areas in the district of Abou Slim… (but) none hit military targets.”
Amin al-Hachemi, a spokesperson for the GNA’s health ministry warned on Sunday that “the death toll could increase in the coming hours.”
The LNA launched an offensive against Tripoli, the seat of the GNA, on April 4, with the aim of “liberating the city from militants.”
At least 278 people have been killed and more than 1,300 wounded in the clashes, according to a toll released last week by the World Health Organization.
The country has been mired in chaos since the uprising that toppled and killed dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.
