Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army said in a statement it had hit "three groups of Chadians and their allies".

The "violent and painful" strikes targeted groups near Marzouk in southern Libya, the LNA added, without giving further details.

The LNA on Sunday announced it had carried out an air strike against "Chadian opposition" groups in the same area.

It was not immediately possible to verify if the Chadian groups the LNA targeted have any links to Chadian fighters France said it hit with air strikes in recent days.

The LNA in mid-January announced the start of an offensive intended to "purge the south of terrorists and criminal groups", including rebels from Chad.

But the operation carries the risk of stoking tensions in a marginalised region that has seen bloody ethnic fighting between Tubu, Tuareg and Arab ethnic groups since the fall of Moamer Kadhafi's regime in 2011.

Libya remains profoundly divided, principally between an internationally backed Government of National Accord that is based in Tripoli and a rival administration in eastern Libya supported by Haftar's LNA.

Security and stability has also been undermined by myriad militia and jihadists.