Official says double suicide bombing targeting airport in eastern Libya kills 7 troops

CAIRO – A spokesman for a renegade general in Libya says two suicide car bombings near an eastern airport has killed seven troops and wounded 12.

Col. Mohammed Hegazi told The Associated Press that the bombers targeted checkpoints 1 kilometer (a half mile) away from the Benina airport in Benghazi.

The airport is the only site remaining under the control of renegade Gen. Khalifa Hifter after he was defeated by a coalition of Islamist militias, including the extremist group Ansar al-Shariah. That group is blamed for the deadly 2012 assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi.

Benghazi fell under the control of the Islamist militias months ago after they repelled attacks by Hifter.

Libya is witnessing its worst spasm of violence since its 2011 civil war.