Three children killed in Libya air strike

TRIPOLI — At least three children were killed and eight civilians wounded Monday in an air strike on a residential neighbourhood near the Libyan capital, the health ministry said.

Spokesman Lamine Al Hachemi said another child was seriously wounded and the parents of the dead children were also injured in the air strike that hit their home in Al Fernaj, a suburb southeast of Tripoli.

Five other civilians were wounded in the attack.

Libya's UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) accused forces of strongman Khalifa Haftar of launching the "criminal" air strike.

"This criminal act carried out by the aircraft of the war criminal [Haftar], is the latest in a series of attacks that have targeted airports, public and private buildings and... terrorised civilians", it said on Facebook.

Ahmad Al Mismari, spokesman for pro-Haftar forces who control eastern Libya, said an air strike was carried out against "a camp of the intelligence services in Al Fernaj" but he denied that a house or civilians were targeted.

Haftar launched an offensive to capture Tripoli, seat of the GNA, in April but since then frontlines have barely shifted.

The GNA urged the international community to take a "firm and dissuasive position" against Haftar and called on the UN mission in Libya to step in and protect civilians in line with international resolutions.