Libya army set to take all of Derna

National Army seizes city’s key port amid a campaign to flush out extremists

Libyan forces, led by the country’s strongman Khalifa Haftar, has seized a main port in Derna, gaining control of most of the eastern city from Islamist militants, Libyan media reported yesterday.

Last month, pro-Haftar forces started a long-anticipated offensive on Derna, the last eastern city outside the control of the Libyan administration based in the east. They have since captured large parts of the city.

Derna is the stronghold of an alliance of radical Islamists led by the so-called Shura Council, believed to be linked to Al Qaida.

The Libyan National Army, commanded by Haftar, late Sunday announced seizing the Derna port that leads to the main streets in the Mediterranean Sea city, located around 300 kilometres from Benghazi where Haftar started an anti-militant campaign four years ago.

The Benghazi-based Ports Security Directorate said yesterday it will take steps to reoperate the Derna harbour and called on security personnel to report to work there.

Spokesman for the army Ahmad Al Mesmari said that the complete liberation of Derna will be announced soon, according to television Libya 24.

Al Mesmari also urged locals, displaced by the fight, to return. “Dignity Operations Room urges all inhabitants of Derna, who left their houses during military operations, to return to their houses after they have been secured by the army troops,” Al Mesmari said.