Spokesman of the UN-backed Libyan government’s forces, Mohamed Gonono, on Wednesday said the UN-backed Libyan government’s forces attacked the rival eastern-based army in western Libya, destroying a number of air defense systems.

A total of six Russian-made air defense systems have been destroyed in different areas in western Libya since early Wednesday, Gonono said in a statement.

The UN-backed government on Monday announced taking over a major air base from the eastern-based army in southwestern Libya, seizing a Russian-made air defense system.

Meanwhile, the eastern-based army announced launching an attack on the UN-backed government’s forces near the city of Gharyan, some 80 km south of capital Tripoli, killing dozens of troops and destroying more than 20 military vehicles.

The eastern-based army and the UN-backed government have fighting since April 2019 for control of Tripoli, which has killed and injured hundreds of civilians and displaced more than 150,000 others.