Libyan army dismantles over 3,800 landmines in Benghazi

Source: Xinhua| 2017-06-22 03:16:08|Editor: yan
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TRIPOLI, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan army has dismantled over 3,800 landmines in central Benghazi, said its media office on Wednesday.

The office added that the army forces continued targeting terrorist group sites with heavy artillery in Al-Sabri and Suq Al-Hut in central Benghazi.

The eastern city of Benghazi, Libya's second largest city and the birthplace of the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime, has been witnessing violent war between armed forces led by General Khalifa Haftar and militant groups for more than three years.

The army controls most of Benghazi, except for small areas in central of the city, where the remaining militants are stationed.

Haftar's forces also control major oil ports in eastern Libya, as well as most of the south after defeating armed militias.

The army's media office revealed that the army is working secretly against the armed groups in the city. The use of land mines prevents the army from taking over the remaining militant sites in Benghazi, the office added.

Libya has been suffering escalating violence and chaos since the fall of Gaddafi's regime in 2011. The North African country is plagued with insecurity and political division.

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