TRIPOLI, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Saturday condemned the terrorist attack on the southeastern Libyan town of Tazirbu that took place on Friday, which killed and injured several people.
"The UNSMIL condemns the deadly terrorist attack on Tezirbu, an oasis southeast of Libya," the mission said in a statement.
"UNSMIL reminds the parties to the conflict of their obligation to protect civilians and calls upon them to immediately cease targeting civilians and civilian objects in compliance with International Humanitarian Law," the statement said.
The mission also called on Libyan parties to join efforts against terrorism that threatens the country's stability and security.
The Libyan government later on Friday called for unity against terrorism, confirming it would spare no efforts to eliminate terrorism.
A military source told Xinhua that dozens of gunmen in armed vehicles carried out separate attacks on Friday evening against the police station and a number of government buildings in Tazirbu, killing eight people and injuring more than 15 others.
The source also confirmed that the terrorists took dozens of hostages when they withdrew from the area.
The source said that the attackers were likely Islamic State extremists, who carried out a similar attack last month in the central district of Jufra, some 650 km southeast of the capital Tripoli.
Tazirbu is a small oasis town in southeastern Libya. It is one of the most important groundwater sources for western and central Libyan cities.
