Second Libyan MiG-23 Fighter Shot Down In A Week

A MiG-23 fighter jet flown by forces loyal to Libyan government was shot down as it carried out raids on jihadist positions over Benghazi. This is the second fighter jet to go down in the past week.

Nasser el-Hassi, spokesman for the government's forces, told AFP news agency the plane was shot down in Qaryunes, northwest Benghazi, as it bombed targets on Friday.

A military source said the pilot survived, having parachuted to safety, but his whereabouts were not immediately clear. It was the second military air crash this week.

On Monday, another MiG-23 operated by forces loyal to Libya's recognised government crashed near the eastern city of Derna after attacking fighter positions.

The LANA news agency, which is close to the recognised government, blamed "technical problems" for the downing.

Before crashing, the fighter had carried out raids on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) positions about 15km from Derna.