UNIDENTIFIED war planes attacked targets in Libya's capital Tripoli yesterday, residents said, hours after forces from the city of Misrata said they had seized the main airport.

Tripoli residents heard jets followed by explosions at dawn but no further details were immediately available.

In recent weeks Libya has seen the worst fighting since the Nato-backed campaign to oust Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Renegade general Khalifa Haftar has declared war on Islamist-leaning forces, part of growing anarchy in the oil producer.

His forces claimed responsibility for air raids on Tripoli on Saturday and last Monday, targeting a group called Operation Dawn.

But this group, consisting mainly of fighters from Misrata, claim on Saturday that it had captured Tripoli's main airport from a rival faction from Zintan in western Libya.