Libyan army troops on Wednesday pushed into Benghazi, the first time in two months that government forces had entered the eastern city, which has been under control of militias.The advance was a significant boost to the troops, though fighting was still raging in Benghazi and the army had a long battle ahead, said Meloud Al Zewi, spokesman for Libya's special forces.
Al Zewi said Libyan troops first swooped into the district of Benina, where Benghazi's airport is located, then took control of other districts, including the eastern, heavily populated neighbourhood of Sedi Khalifa. Pictures of soldiers kissing the ground and residents welcoming the armoured vehicles were widely circulated on social networking sites.
On its official Facebook page, the Libyan army urged residents to stay from crowding around the army in their joy for fear this would make them an easy target.
| The Libyan army has a Facebook page? |
Then, the internationally-recognised government, led by Abdullah Al Thinni, joined ranks with Hifter and on October 15, launched a wide offensive to retake the city.
On Tuesday, Al Thinni government said it is forces are ready to retake the capital, Tripoli, which also fell into the hands of militias from the coastal city of Misrata and allied to Islamist factions.