TRIPOLI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday that its air force launched airstrikes on human and fuel traffickers in western Libya, in the first such operation since the Government of National Unity took office two years ago.
"This morning, the National Air Force carried out precise airstrikes against the hideouts of fuel, drug and human trafficking gangs in the western region," the ministry said in a statement.
The airstrikes were "successful and achieved the intended goals", the statement noted, adding that the airstrikes were carried out in accordance with instructions from Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah "as a part of a military plan to clear the west coast and the rest of Libya" of traffickers.
The ministry called on citizens to "fully cooperate with the military forces in the military operations that will not stop until all of its objectives are achieved."
Local media reported that there were no human casualties as a result of the airstrikes on traffickers in the western cities of Zuwara and Zawiya, which are among the largest trafficking hubs in Libya. ■