Libya army defeats Haftar militias near Tunisian border

TRIPOLI

The Libyan army has captured two towns near Tunisian border from eastern warlord Khalifa Haftar's militias.

The capture of the two towns was announced by the media office of the government-led Burkan Al-Ghadab (Volcano of Rage) Operation.

"Our heroic forces have entered the towns of Badr and Tij amid welcome from their residents," the media office said in a statement on Facebook on Tuesday.

No further details were available.

Libya-based February TV aired a video showing the deployment of Libyan military vehicles in the town of Badr after taking it from Haftar's militias.

On Monday, the Libyan army retook the strategic Al-Watiya airbase south of Tripoli, which had been under Haftar’s control for about six years.

The Libyan government has been under attack by Haftar's forces since April 2019, with more than 1,000 killed in the violence. It launched Operation Peace Storm on March 26 to counter attacks on the capital.

Following the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya's government was founded in 2015 under a UN-led political deal.

*Bassel Ibrahim contributed to this report from Ankara