<span style="color: #222222;">Libya's UN-recognised government says its forces struck a desert airbase yesterday, that has been a key staging post for the transport of troops and supplies by eastern-based strongman Khalifa Haftar. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Since April, the government has been battling an offensive against the capital by Haftar's forces, who already control most of the far-flung oases and oilfields of the desert south as well as their eastern stronghold. <br />'' <br />'' Government forces said that the air force struck a gathering of mercenaries at the Al-Jufra base, destroying a hangar for drones belonging to a hostile country. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">They said they also destroyed a munitions depot and hit an Ilyushin Il-76 military transport aircraft. Pro-Haftar television channel Libya Al-Hadath confirmed the base had been attacked.</span>