Attackers fired rockets at eastern Libya's Labraq airport today targeting one of the oil producer's few functioning air hubs in a country gripped by violence.

Labraq has become the main gateway into eastern Libya since Benghazi airport stopped working in May due to fighting. 

The airport attack came a day after militants claiming loyalty to Islamic State killed more than 40 people in suicide car bombings in Qubbah, a town some 50 km away.

Labraq is located near Bayda, the seat of internationally recognised Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni since he had to flee the capital Tripoli when it was taken over by an armed group in August which set up a rival government and parliament.

Helicopters took off from Labraq on Friday hours after the suicide bombings to attack militant targets in Derna, according to a military source.

The militants claiming responsibility for the Qubbah bombings had said in a statement they had acted in revenge for Egyptian air strikes on Islamic State targets in Derna on Monday, a day after the group released a video showing the execution of Egyptian Copts.

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