TRIPOLI, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Embassy in Libya on Monday expressed concern over attacks on civilian airports in western Libya, as the armed conflict between Libya's UN-backed government and the rival eastern-based army continues.

"In my introductory conversations with leaders on all sides ... I stressed that the United States sees great risk in the escalation of attacks on civilian airports, and if a civilian airliner were struck, this would be catastrophic," U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, said.

The UN-backed government has been engaged in a deadly armed conflict since early April in and around the capital Tripoli against the eastern-based army, which is trying to take over the city and overthrow the government.

A few days ago, the eastern-based army announced targeting Zuwara airport in western Libya and destroying hangers used to store drones.

In July, the eastern-based army announced destroying the main control chamber of drones in Tripoli's Mitiga airport. In return, the UN-backed government announced destroying drones belonging to the rival eastern-based army in Jufra district in central Libya.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya on Thursday denounced increasing attacks on airports in western Libya.

The eastern-based army, led by General Khalifa Haftar, is allied with the eastern-based government, as the North African nation is politically divided between eastern and western governments.

Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos ever since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Enditem

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