TRIPOLI, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Forces of the UN-backed Libyan government on Wednesday announced capturing 25 soldiers of the eastern-based army in south of the capital Tripoli, as the armed conflict between the two rivals continues.
"Forces of the military zone (force) of Tripoli this morning captured 25 gunmen, including mercenaries of Haftar (commander of the eastern-based army) as they tried to infiltrate into the capital's neighborhoods," the UN-backed government's forces said in a statement.
The statement also said that the soldiers "surrendered after they were surrounded and gave up all their weapons."
The eastern-based army, led by Khalifa Haftar, has been launching a military campaign in and around Tripoli, trying to take over the city from the UN-backed government.
The violence killed and injured thousands of people, and displaced more than 120,000 civilians away from their homes.
