More than 60 Dignity Operation militants were killed on Thursday in an attack launched by the Third Force on Brak Al-Shati Airbase, south Libya.

Dignity Operation forces led by Mohammed Ben Nayal stationed in the airbase,  60 km north of Sabha, were taken by surprise and forced to flee to the desert under the heavy fire of the Third Force, backed by Defense Ministry brigades. More than 60 militants were killed in the exchange of fire.

The Defense Ministry of UN-installed Presidency Council held on Friday Dignity Operation forces responsible for the new military escalation in the south because of their frequent air and ground attacks on Taminhint Airbase, the HQ of the Third Force, which led to several casualties.

It also promised in a statement to set up an investigation into the deaths of the attack on Brak Airbase.

The Presidency Council also condemned the attack on Brak Al-Shati and denied any links to it.

Meanwhile, the Media Office of the Third Force said the attack on Brak Airbase came in retaliation for the repeated Dignity Operation attacks and shelling on Taminhint Airbase. Head of the Media Office Mohammed Qaliwan told local media that their forces had disabled Brak Airbase to prevent future attacks on Taminhint. He also denied Dignity Operation media claims of field execution of militants.

The House of Representatives declared three days of mourning and promised to retaliate for the attack and expel the Third Force and all Dignity Operation opponents from the south.

Forces of Mohammed Ben Nayal seized Brak Al-Shati Airbase in December 2016 and started using it to launch attacks on Taminhint Airbase to expel the Third Force from south Libya.