TRIPOLI, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Forces of Libya's UN-backed government on Sunday announced capturing eight soldiers of the rival eastern-based army in the south of the capital Tripoli.
"Our forces in Ain Zara (southern Tripoli) captured eight members of Haftar's militias (eastern-based army) trying to sneak into the area," the spokesman of the UN-backed government forces Mohamed Gonono said in a statement.
The spokesman also said that the UN-backed government forces took control of large areas in southern Tripoli, destroying two military vehicles of the eastern-based army.
The eastern-based army of Libya has been leading a military campaign since early April in and around Tripoli, attempting to take over the city and overthrow the UN-backed government.
The fighting has killed and injured thousands of people, and forced nearly 120,000 civilians to flee their homes away from the fighting.
Libya is politically divided between eastern and western governments, amid escalating violence and instability.
