Militants have launched a heavy attack on Libya’s biggest airport only two days after they signed a truce with rival militants that control the airport.

Airport security official Al-Jilani Al-Dahesh said on Sunday that the Tripoli International Airport was “attacked this morning with mortar rounds, rockets and tank fire.”

“It was the most intense bombardment so far,” he said.

Gunmen from Misrata first attacked the airport last week, clashing with rival militants from the Libyan town of Zintan, who have been controlling it since the overthrow of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

The attack halted all flights and caused extensive damage to planes and airport infrastructure, with officials saying the airport could not be open for months.

The fresh attack came despite an agreement reached between rival militant groups on Friday to begin observing a truce and to hand over the airport’s control to neutral forces.

Nearly three years after the fall of Gaddafi, Libya is still grappling with rising insecurity as the country has been witnessing numerous clashes between government forces and rival militia groups.

The former rebels refuse to lay down arms despite efforts by the central government to impose law and order.

Thousands of angry Libyan demonstrators have frequently taken to the streets in different cities to protest against the lack of security across the North African country.