TRIPOLI - Forces aligned with a UN-backed government in Tripoli said on Monday that three of their men had been killed in air raids against a desert air base by rivals allied with eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar. The struggle for control around Tamanhent air base 30km northeast of Sabha risks escalating into the first major confrontation between forces officially linked to the Government of National Accord (GNA) and Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA). Tamanhent is controlled by a force from Misrata, a militarily powerful western city that has backed the GNA. An eastern military source said there had also been ground clashes around Samnu, about 50 km (30 miles) northeast of Sabha. A medical source in Sabha said three LNA troops had been killed.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 10, 2017 21:11 UTC