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Constant clashes in Libya's Benghazi kill at least 16

Xinhua, November 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

At least 16 people have been killed in recent clashes between the Libyan army and militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) in Libya's eastern city of Benghazi, military sources confirmed on Thursday.

The fighting started after Libya National Army's warplanes launched air strikes on IS militants' sites this week, according to an army official, who declined to disclose his name. He added the army managed to take over an air base which the extremist group had seized and used as stronghold since last year.

The Libyan army said the air force also bomb sites of IS militants in Benghazi, killing seven militants on Thursday alone.

The Libyan National Army, led by Major General Khalifa Haftar, has been waging a military campaign dubbed "Operation Dignity" against extremist groups in Benghazi for over a year.

Although the army has claimed several times that they had gained ground in combating the extremist militants, the city has never been fully controlled by either side.

Libya has been suffering an escalating violence ever since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Some major cities like Benghazi, Sirte, and Derna have been suffering from continuous fighting and insecurity. Endit