Army claims advances in Libyan cities of Benghazi and Ajdabiya
Military forces loyal to Libya's eastern government said on February 21 they had pushed back Islamist fighters in several areas of Benghazi, seizing the strategic port of Marisa.
The Libyan National Army said it had also taken control of the town of Ajdabiya, about 150 km (90 miles) south of Benghazi, another city where it has been battling Islamist groups.
Libya has been riven by conflict since the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi, as armed factions supporting rival governments in Tripoli and the east have fought for power and a share of the country's oil wealth.
Islamist fighters have used the resulting security vacuum to expand their presence, and militants loyal to Islamic State have gained control of the city of Sirte, to the west of Ajdabiya.
Benghazi, Libya's second-largest city, has seen some of the worst fighting, with violence escalating when military commander Khalifa Haftar launched a campaign in 2014 against Islamists and other armed groups.
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At least three soldiers and 15 Islamist fighters were killed in clashes on February 21, the military said.
Marisa would be a significant gain for the army. The groups it has been fighting have been receiving deliveries of weapons through the port.
