TRIPOLI, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The forces of the UN-backed Libyan government on Thursday said it had taken control of al-Asaba city, some 120 km west of the capital Tripoli, from the rival eastern-based army.
"Our brave forces took complete control of al-Asaba city," Mohamed Gonono, spokesman of the UN-backed government's forces, said in a statement, adding that fighter jets continue reconnaissance in the city to "monitor any movements of the fleeing remnants" of the eastern-based army.
On the other hand, the eastern-based army announced it had destroyed nearly 20 military vehicles and four Turkish-made drones of the government's forces in different areas in southwestern Libya.
The eastern-based army and the UN-backed government have been fighting for more than a year for control of Tripoli, which killed and injured hundreds of civilians and displaced more than 150,000 others.
The government's forces have been making significant progress lately against the eastern-based army, which includes taking over a major military base in southwestern Libya. Enditem
