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Officials: Egypt warplanes bombing Libyan militias

FILE - In this Saturday, May 17, 2014 file photo, Libyan Gen. Khalifa Hifter addresses a press conference in Benghazi, Libya. In eastern Libya, a new round of battles appeared imminent after renegade Gen. Khalifa Hifter announced Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, in a late televised statement, a new offensive to "liberate" Benghazi, Libya's second largest city, "from terrorists." Benghazi has fallen into hands of Islamist extremist militias in the past few months. The militias overran army barracks and seized large amounts of weapons. Hifter's forces called for an "armed uprising" on Wednesday in Benghazi, urging youth to carry weapons and fight for their own neighborhoods. (AP Photo/Mohammed el-Shaiky, File)
FILE - In this Saturday, May 17, 2014 file photo, Libyan Gen. Khalifa Hifter addresses a press conference in Benghazi, Libya. In eastern Libya, a new round of battles appeared imminent after renegade Gen. Khalifa Hifter announced Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, in a late televised statement, a new offensive to "liberate" Benghazi, Libya's second largest city, "from terrorists." Benghazi has fallen into hands of Islamist extremist militias in the past few months. The militias overran army barracks and seized large amounts of weapons. Hifter's forces called for an "armed uprising" on Wednesday in Benghazi, urging youth to carry weapons and fight for their own neighborhoods. (AP Photo/Mohammed el-Shaiky, File) FILE - In this Saturday, May 17, 2014 file photo, Libyan Gen. Khalifa Hifter addresses a press conference in Benghazi, Libya. In eastern Libya, a new round of battles appeared imminent after renegade Gen. Khalifa Hifter announced Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, in a late televised statement, a new offensive to "liberate" Benghazi, Libya's second largest city, "from terrorists." Benghazi has fallen into hands of Islamist extremist militias in the past few months. The militias overran army barracks and seized large amounts of weapons. Hifter's forces called for an "armed uprising" on Wednesday in Benghazi, urging youth to carry weapons and fight for their own neighborhoods. (AP Photo/Mohammed el-Shaiky, File)

CAIRO (AP) – Two Egyptian government officials say their country’s warplanes are bombing positions of Islamist militias in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi.

The officials, who have first-hand knowledge of the operation, say the use of the aircraft is part of an Egyptian-led operation against the militiamen that involves Libyan ground troops.

The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Libyan lawmaker Tareq al-Jorushi confirmed to the AP that Egyptian warplanes were taking part in the ongoing operation in Benghazi, but added that they were being flown by Libyan pilots.