US ambassador says 8 Libyan civilians killed in air strikes

Eight displaced Libyan civilians were killed in air strikes near the capital of Tripoli on Monday, the U.S. ambassador to Libya said.

War planes from Libyan internationally recognized government's air force on Monday attacked Tarhouna, a town 80 km southeast of the capital Tripoli, which is held by the Islamist armed coalition Libya Dawn, according to military sources.

"Terrible news today from Tarhouna where eight innocent displaced Tawergha killed in air strikes," U.S. Ambassador to Libya Deborah Jones said in a tweet. Tawergha is a minority group in Libya.

She said the number of casualty was based on sources of both sides, adding that the violence in Tarhouna is "unacceptable" and must cease.

During the last few days, Libyan army forces belonging to the country's internationally recognized government were tightening up the siege on Tripoli by taking Rishvana, Azizia, Nasiriyah, Tarhouna and al-Zahra, towns adjacent to southern and western part of Tripoli.

The capital city fell to the hands of Libya Dawn last August, when the government retreated to the eastern town of Tobruk. The army has been struggling to regain the lost territories since December.

Libya, a major oil producer in North Africa, has been witnessing a frayed political process after its former leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled during the 2011 political turmoil.

The protracted conflict in Libya has caused a humanitarian crisis with at least 120,000 people forced to flee their homes, resulting in shortages in both food and medical supplies along with mounting casualties.

Although the United Nations has brokered several rounds of peace talks between the opposing parties since September, clashes remained despite a truce agreed on by factions. Endit