Islamist militiamen launched their heaviest assault so far on Libya’s main airport two days after a truce with the rival ex-rebels –– the Zintan militia –– that control it collapsed.
![Relentless violence across Libya in past months — including a war against Islamists in the east launched by a rogue general — has sparked fears of all-out civil war. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MQMYLZGEQT7CSIYRZFS5C7HM54.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1b0372e3df230cdbc8f8d9e60b998c8ef2c14ba8fb702ed03fb8171c7b06321&width=400&height=225)
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![The inside of a damaged terminal is seen after a shelling at Tripoli International Airport on July 17, 2014. Hani Amara/Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5GUIAK5KVTQBQWQ2CSKQX2AFJM.jpg?smart=true&auth=63fb90ddc266e41e7532ac956e443cb98582593dac121e895bdb2e4d26946255&width=400&height=225)
![A coalition of militias led by Islamist fighters launched an assault on Tripoli international airport, with clashes later spreading to the road leading to the capital. Hani Amara/Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FVUFZGJ4JZ45XVJ3TQGOVUFXKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ee9ac4d1580ebecf688a0fa506810490e560967340395fc07971b4461ed59db5&width=400&height=225)
![A picture taken on July 16, 2014, shows unexploded mortar shells sticking out of the ground at the Tripoli International Airport in the Libyan capital. Mahmud Turkia/AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PIXGUQFMWDPG3R36R7XXFQEKGU.jpg?smart=true&auth=133dad7bdfd558f63a2853ec04d2f597bd28b04c34a60808c6a8d3c73c2c8f1d&width=400&height=225)
![‘The airport was attacked this morning with mortar rounds, rockets and tank fire,’ an airport security official said. Seen here is a picture taken on July 16, 2014, shows the remains of a burnt airplane at the airport. Mahmud Turkia/AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZJJIYZM4NFIMMLGXYUVXS3JRS4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e81df4103cd80de8c22d3940a0fbcd41acf5706ce63ff62055411d8b621b5ba5&width=400&height=225)
![A picture taken on July 17, 2014, shows people inspecting the passenger terminal at the Tripoli international airport in the Libyan capital. Tripoli international airport came under rocket fire for a fourth straight day, in attacks aimed at ousting anti-Islamist fighters who control the facility, a Libyan security official said. AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7AS6FTEW2GYROS3T2MFASVEALE.jpg?smart=true&auth=6594198c0cce4ae233e6a8e176dcff809c2d5b97d25c8ae92357843404d9cae4&width=400&height=225)
![The fighting has forced a halt to all flights and caused extensive damage to planes and airport infrastructure, with aviation officials saying Tripoli airport could stay closed for months. Mahmud Turkia/AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6NL4TA3ID7OEG2EJBUPFO32H4I.jpg?smart=true&auth=a21cc6e7f73eee2d69feaf207e4d909d887399b9ff359c395f537ea61fccc59d&width=400&height=225)
![The Islamist rebels have dubbed the operation to crush the Zintan militia “Libya’s Dawn”. Mahmud Turkia/AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2R7APNAE6ZXYQTDK5WQEMGXFK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=debfa5825c3f56edaf3ce8c0edfb774361b9f71c86dcefca7588dd3c676644cf&width=400&height=225)
![The rival sides are among several heavily-armed militias which hold sway in the oil-producing North African nation since the uprising. Hani Amara/Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HTLP25IHJ75ACPSHKBCE7KI2ZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c418eb761babe36b55236b9985190725c892c49c0b6752711d78def8e68cfa79&width=400&height=225)
![Relentless violence across Libya in past months — including a war against Islamists in the east launched by a rogue general — has sparked fears of all-out civil war. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MQMYLZGEQT7CSIYRZFS5C7HM54.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1b0372e3df230cdbc8f8d9e60b998c8ef2c14ba8fb702ed03fb8171c7b06321&width=400&height=225)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NZMT6LZY4KQO3KPTFBFAJJOHWA.jpg?smart=true&auth=0bb264ab62ee4f132815835466e8b1a67eca7082faeee86886870610ce8e5a91&width=400&height=225)
![The inside of a damaged terminal is seen after a shelling at Tripoli International Airport on July 17, 2014. Hani Amara/Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5GUIAK5KVTQBQWQ2CSKQX2AFJM.jpg?smart=true&auth=63fb90ddc266e41e7532ac956e443cb98582593dac121e895bdb2e4d26946255&width=400&height=225)
![A coalition of militias led by Islamist fighters launched an assault on Tripoli international airport, with clashes later spreading to the road leading to the capital. Hani Amara/Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FVUFZGJ4JZ45XVJ3TQGOVUFXKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ee9ac4d1580ebecf688a0fa506810490e560967340395fc07971b4461ed59db5&width=400&height=225)
![A picture taken on July 16, 2014, shows unexploded mortar shells sticking out of the ground at the Tripoli International Airport in the Libyan capital. Mahmud Turkia/AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PIXGUQFMWDPG3R36R7XXFQEKGU.jpg?smart=true&auth=133dad7bdfd558f63a2853ec04d2f597bd28b04c34a60808c6a8d3c73c2c8f1d&width=400&height=225)
![‘The airport was attacked this morning with mortar rounds, rockets and tank fire,’ an airport security official said. Seen here is a picture taken on July 16, 2014, shows the remains of a burnt airplane at the airport. Mahmud Turkia/AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZJJIYZM4NFIMMLGXYUVXS3JRS4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e81df4103cd80de8c22d3940a0fbcd41acf5706ce63ff62055411d8b621b5ba5&width=400&height=225)
![A picture taken on July 17, 2014, shows people inspecting the passenger terminal at the Tripoli international airport in the Libyan capital. Tripoli international airport came under rocket fire for a fourth straight day, in attacks aimed at ousting anti-Islamist fighters who control the facility, a Libyan security official said. AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7AS6FTEW2GYROS3T2MFASVEALE.jpg?smart=true&auth=6594198c0cce4ae233e6a8e176dcff809c2d5b97d25c8ae92357843404d9cae4&width=400&height=225)
![The fighting has forced a halt to all flights and caused extensive damage to planes and airport infrastructure, with aviation officials saying Tripoli airport could stay closed for months. Mahmud Turkia/AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6NL4TA3ID7OEG2EJBUPFO32H4I.jpg?smart=true&auth=a21cc6e7f73eee2d69feaf207e4d909d887399b9ff359c395f537ea61fccc59d&width=400&height=225)
![The Islamist rebels have dubbed the operation to crush the Zintan militia “Libya’s Dawn”. Mahmud Turkia/AFP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2R7APNAE6ZXYQTDK5WQEMGXFK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=debfa5825c3f56edaf3ce8c0edfb774361b9f71c86dcefca7588dd3c676644cf&width=400&height=225)
![The rival sides are among several heavily-armed militias which hold sway in the oil-producing North African nation since the uprising. Hani Amara/Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HTLP25IHJ75ACPSHKBCE7KI2ZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c418eb761babe36b55236b9985190725c892c49c0b6752711d78def8e68cfa79&width=400&height=225)
![Relentless violence across Libya in past months — including a war against Islamists in the east launched by a rogue general — has sparked fears of all-out civil war. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MQMYLZGEQT7CSIYRZFS5C7HM54.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1b0372e3df230cdbc8f8d9e60b998c8ef2c14ba8fb702ed03fb8171c7b06321&width=400&height=225)
In pictures: Libya airport under attack
Rob Gurdebeke
July 20, 2014
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