Two unidentified warplanes on Wednesday bombed the airport of the western Libyan town of Zintan, allied with the country's internationally recognized government, damaging electricity systems but not the runway, a local official said.

Libya is caught in a conflict between two rival governments and their armed forces, who are battling for control four years after the war that ousted Muammar Gaddafi and which has steadily tipped the North African state into chaos.

Zintan has been hit before by forces from Libya Dawn, which took over Tripoli during fighting in the summer and set up its own self-declared government.

"Two MiG warplanes had targeted the runway but they missed the target. But they bombed the lighting system which will force us to suspend all flights after sunset, said Zintan aviation official Omar Matoog without detailing who was responsible.

"The airport is still working normally."

Fighting and air strikes have escalated even as the United Nations prepares to restart negotiations this week between the two factions in an attempt to broker a ceasefire, form a unity government and put Libya back on track to stability.

PHOTO CAPTION

An oil and gas terminal on the outskirts of Zwara, Libya

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