9 children and two women killed in UAE drone attack in Libya

Drones operated by the United Arab Emirates which supports Libyan rebel commander Khalifa Haftar, struck a house in the town of 'Umm Al Aranib', killing nine children and two women.

Iran PressAfrica: The incident was confirmed Sunday by the social media account of the 'Burkan al-Ghadab' (Volcano of Rage) military operation linked to the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA).

Murzuq General Hospital in the town also confirmed that the bodies of nine children and two women were brought there, according to the 'Libya observer'.

In another separate attack by the east-based rebel army on a residential neighborhood in the south of the capital Tripoli on Sunday, five children were killed and 10 other civilians were injured.

The east-based rebels, led by General Khalifa Haftar, have been leading a military campaign in and around Tripoli since early April, attempting to take over the city and topple the UN-backed government.

In November, the UAE struck a biscuit factory near the capital, Tripoli, killing seven employees and wounding 15 others.

The UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) has repeatedly blamed the UAE for supporting Haftar forces by aerial attacks on civilian neighbourhoods.

On April 4, Haftar -- leader of the eastern Libyan forces -- launched an offensive to capture Tripoli which the GNA responded to with the Burkan al-Ghadab operation.

According to UN data, over a thousand people have been killed since the start of the operation and more than 5,000 injured.

Since the ouster and death of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, two seats of power have emerged in Libya: one in eastern Libya supported mainly by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates and another in Tripoli, which enjoys UN backing and international recognition.

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