Tripoli, Apr 25 (IANS): The UN-backed Libyan government's forces said that its fighter jets had launched four airstrikes on a military base of the rival eastern-based army, which media reports said resulted in five deaths and 10 injuries.

"The air force earlier today launched four airstrikes around Watya airbase targeting military vehicles of the militias" of the eastern-based army, Xinhua news agency quoted government spokesman Mohamed Gonono as saying in a statement on Friday, without revealing casualties.

Local media said that five soldiers were killed and 10 others injured by the airstrikes which occurred some 140 km southwest of the capital Tripoli.

Moreover, a local official said three civilians were killed by an indiscriminate shelling that hit a residential area in southern Tripoli.

The east-based army has been leading a military campaign in and around Tripoli since April 2019 in an attempt to take over the city and topple the UN-backed government.

The fighting has killed and injured thousands of people and forced more than 150,000 to flee their homes.