TRIPOLI, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) — The eastern-based army of Libya on Thursday announced killing more than 20 members of the UN-backed government forces in south of capital Tripoli, as the armed conflict between the two parties continues. Three (members) of Deterrence Force militia (UN-backed government’s forces) in Salah Addin axis have been captured, as well as a number of Misurata militias in al-Mashroo (in southern Tripoli),” the eastern-based army’s information office said in a statement. “A total of 12 militia members (of UN-backed government’s forces) have been captured and more than 20 have been killed, as they clearly retreated,” the statement said. The UN-backed Libyan government’s forces on Wednesday announced capturing 25 soldiers of the eastern-based army in southern Tripoli, bringing the total number of eastern-based army soldiers it captured to more than 50 in a week. The eastern-based army, led by Khalifa Haftar, has been launching a military campaign in and around Tripoli, trying to take over the city from the UN-backed government.

Source: Libya Today January 02, 2020 11:26 UTC