BENGHAZI: A MiG-23 fighter of Libya’s internationally recognized government was shot down Friday as it carried out airstrikes on opposition positions in the coastal city of Benghazi, the military said.

Nasser El-Hassi, spokesman for the government’s forces, said the plane was “shot down in Qaryunes, northwest Benghazi, as it bombed positions of the (Mujahedeen) Shura Council”, a coalition of militias close to Al-Qaeda.

Daesh claimed its terrorists downed the plane, according to SITE Intelligence Group, a US monitor of militant activity on the Internet.

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 recognized government crashed near the eastern city of Derna after attacking Daesh positions.

LANA news agency, which is close to the recognized government, blamed “technical problems” for the downing.

Before crashing, the fighter had carried out raids on Daesh positions around 15 km from Derna.

Two administrations are vying for power in war-ravaged Libya, one based in the capital Tripoli backed by a coalition of militias, and the recognized government, exiled in the east.