Six killed in Libya army air strikes

Six people were killed Tuesday as a Libyan army warplane carried out air strikes in the town of Zuwarah, some 120 km west of the capital Tripoli, according to a military source.

The source told Xinhua that a MiG-21 fighter carried out air strikes and hit a food warehouse in Zuwarah, as a result of which six people were killed and at least 20 were injured.

Two of the dead were foreign nationals, the source added. However, another military source from the Libyan national army said the building they hit was an ammunition depot, not a food warehouse.

"The site was a source of ammunition supply for the Islamist armed alliance Libya Dawn. It is a vital and important strategic location for them. We were able to destroy it," the source added.

The Libyan army had earlier warned citizens not to approach sites of Libya Dawn militias as they might be targeted by army warplanes.

Army jets in November had carried out air strikes in several cities including Tripoli, Zuwarah, Zawiya, Sorman and Gharyan, which are all under the control of Libya Dawn.

Libya's national army, along with some pro-secular militia, has engaged in several battles since mid-November trying to regain control of lost cities and towns.