Islamist fighters in the Fajr Libya (Libyan Dawn) coalition said today that they have captured Tripoli airport after 10 days of clashes with nationalist militiamen.
A statement shown on screen on An-Nabaa television, regarded as close to the Islamists, said, "Fajr Libya announces that it totally controls Tripoli international airport."
The strategic site 30 kilometres south of the Libyan capital, has been shut since July 13 amid skirmishes between the Islamists and nationalist fighters from Zintan west of Tripoli, who had held the airport since the 2011 fall of long-time dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
