Libyan army pushes to retake key town

CAIRO: The self-styled Libyan National Army says it has been advancing to retake a strategic town near Tripoli from militias allied with a UN-supported but weak government based in the country’s capital.

The force, led by Khalifa Hifter, says it advanced to wrest control of Gharyan late on Monday, capturing areas beside the town. Gharyan is about 100km from the capital. The Tripoli militias had pushed Hifter’s forces from Gharyan in June, cutting off their key supply route.

Hifter’s forces launched an offensive in April to take Tripoli and the months-long fighting has killed hundreds and displaced thousands of people.