GENEVA, April 9: The UN’s health body announced Tuesday said local facilities had reported 47 people killed and 181 wounded in clashes between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and militias countering its advance on the capital, Tripoli.

The LNA, commanded by Khalifa Haftar, launched the operation to cleanse Tripoli of terrorists and criminal gangs last week.

The UN agency warned that the renewed fighting could deplete medical supplies.

Separately, night flights will resume at the capital’s Mitiga airport following a brief closure prompted Monday by LNA air strikes, said the national carrier, Libyan Airlines.

LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari said the strike targeted a MiG-23 military plane and a helicopter.

A security source at the airport said the strike hit a runway without causing casualties.

A spokesman for the national carrier said that the first flights from the facility will fly in passengers who were unable to travel due to Monday’s closure.

UN chief Antonio Guterres on Monday appealed for an immediate halt to fighting in Libya, after the air strike on Tripoli's only functioning airport.

"I make a very strong appeal to Libyan leaders … to stop all military activities... and to return to the negotiation table", the EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said after talks with EU foreign ministers.

 
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