(MENAFN- Arab News) TRIPOLI: Militants attacked Tripoli's airport on Friday and killed three security personnel a Libyan official said in an assault claimed by Daesh.
'An armed group carried out an attack this morning on the prison located on the Mitiga air base to try to free the detainees' the airport security official said.
'First there was an explosion... and then a clash with automatic weapons' he said adding that at least eight attackers died. An AFP journalist who was at the airport heard a blast followed by gunfire.
Daesh later claimed the attack on Twitter saying the operation was aimed at releasing 'detained Muslims who are undergoing torture' at the facility. Four militants a Moroccan a Tunisian and two Sudanese died in the attack after having killed or wounded several guards inside the prison the group said.
Flights were unaffected by the violence at what is the only airport still functioning in the militia-held city.
Mitiga is a military airfield used for civilian traffic after Tripoli's international airport was seriously damaged last year in fighting.
Daesh in June took over the coastal city of Sirte 450 km to the east of Tripoli. Over the past few months they have claimed several attacks in the Libyan capital mostly against embassies.