TRIPOLI, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Forces of the UN-backed Libyan government on Thursday said they intercepted a convoy of the eastern-based army near the city of Gharyan and captured 20 army soldiers.
"Our brave forces today intercepted a convoy of Haftar's militias (army) in Um-Al-Baqar area (near Gharyan) fleeing toward the southern city of Sabha," the army forces said in a statement.
The statement added that the government forces captured 20 soldiers, destroyed several armored vehicles and seized several others.
"The air force launched eight accurate strikes on the main operation chamber of the rebels (army) in Gharyan, and destroyed several Emirati-made armored vehicles belonging to them," the government forces said.
The government forces on Wednesday announced taking over Gharyan, some 80 km south of the capital Tripoli, from the army.
The army has been leading a military campaign since early April to take over the capital from the government.
According to the World Health Organization, the fighting has so far killed 739 people and injured 4,407, including civilians.
Also, tens of thousands of civilians fled their homes away from the armed conflict.
Libya has been suffering escalating violence and political instability ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
