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7 killed in Suicide Bomb attack in Libya's Benghazi

Xinhua, December 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

Suicide bomb attack killed at least seven soldiers of the eastern army and injured eight others in the Libyan city Benghazi on Sunday, according to medical and security sources.

IS has claimed responsibility for the bombing in social media accounts, posting footage of the bombing.

The bombing took place in the western part of Benghazi known as Ganfouda after the army forces said Sunday they took over the area.

Benghazi, Libya's second largest city and the birthplace of the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime, has been witnessing violent war between militant groups and forces loyal to major general Khalifa Haftar, who has been leading a military operation called "dignity" against militants in the city for two years.

An army spokesman said about 120 families are still trapped in Ganfouda. Only a few civilians managed to evacuate the area.

The bombing comes after the UN-backed prime minister in Tripoli announced that the fight between the government forces and IS in Sirte, which is located some 450 km east the capital, is officially over after defeating the terrorist group. Endit