Haftar's forces say 'captured' Libya's Derna
Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar has announced the liberation of the city of Derna from the al-Qaeda-linked militants.
"We proudly announce the liberation of Derna, a city dear to all Libyans," said Marshal Haftar in a televised speech on Thursday.
A spokesman for Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) said the group’s forces stormed the last stronghold of the “al-Quaeda organization” in the city centre.
The liberation followed heavy clashes and airstrikes in Derna, the only city in the eastern region beyond Haftar's control, military sources said.
Retaking Derna, a coastal town of nearly 150,000 people in the west of border with Egypt, marks an important step for the LNA as it tries to consolidate its power in the region.
The LNA is among the main factions vying for power since the 2011 NATO-led invasion, which toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi, and left a power vacuum in the North African oil-rich country.
The LNA claimed earlier it regained control of the oil crescent region, days after it retook Ras Lanuf and al-Sidra, through which Libyan oil is transported abroad.
Haftar said all future revenues from the terminals under his control would be handed over to the unrecognised administration running eastern Libya.
The decision to hand control of the eastern export terminals to Benghazi, instead of the internationally recognized state oil firm, dealt a blow to international efforts to preserve Libya’s unity through the UN-backed Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).
Libya has been torn apart by the conflict since the 2011 NATO-led invasion, with rival governments and armed groups vying for power and share of the country’s oil wealth.
Protests in Morocco as US-flagged ship carrying arms to Tel Aviv docks at Tangier
Tunisia votes with Saied set for re-election
Algeria votes with President Tebboune expecting easy re-election
Lindsey Graham threatens to sanction US allies backing ICC arrest warrants
VIDEO | Tens of thousands of Catalans protest to demand access to better housing
Israel launches air strikes on Syria-Lebanon border crossing
Russia: Comprehensive deal with Iran will include defense, security ties
VIDEO | Israeli embassy shooting in Jordan leaves gunman dead, 3 police injured
VIDEO | Paris march in support of Palestine women
VIDEO | ICC issues arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister, ousted regime war minister
120 Palestinians perish as Israeli war machine keeps ravaging Gaza
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
