At least 40 people have been killed and dozens more wounded in an air raid carried out by Haftar's warplanes at a detention center for refugees and migrants in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, according to health and emergency officials.

Malek Mersek, a spokesman for the state emergency medical services, said 80 others were wounded in the attack late on Tuesday.

The center reportedly houses more than 600 people, but the part that was hit held some 150 male refugees and migrants from African countries such as Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia.

Government of National Accord (GNA), which is recognized by the United Nations, blamed the attack on the forces of Libyan renegade General Khalifa Haftar, whose self-styled Libyan National Army has been fighting to seize Tripoli for the past three months.

"This crime came after the statements of the air force commander of Haftar's Libyan National Army, Muhammad al-Manfour, and therefore it is he who bears its legal and moral responsibility," Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha told al-Wasat state radio.

Haftar, who controls much of eastern and southern Libya, launched an offensive to take the capital in early April. At least 739 people have been killed as a result, according to the World Health Organization, with over 4,000 wounded and 100,000 displaced.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR said it was extremely concerned at reports of the strikes on the migrant center."UNHCR is extremely concerned about news of airstrikes targeting Tajoura detention center east of Tripoli, and accounts of refugees and migrants deceased. Civilians should never be a target," it tweeted.Rights groups say migrants face horrifying abuses in the North African country, which remains prey to a multitude of militias vying for control of the oil-rich country.The plight of migrants has worsened since Haftar's offensive against Tripoli began in April.

General Hafter was blamed as the perpetrator of the attack by the government in Tripoli and declared a war criminal. Clashes have continued since 2011 in the country since NATO-backed forces ousted Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi.

ILKHA