197 killed in landmine blasts in Libya's Benghazi in 2017

TRIPOLI, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- An official of the Libyan eastern-based army said that landmines planted by extremists in the eastern city of Benghazi have killed 197 soldiers and civilians during 2017, the eastern Libyan Press Agency reported on Sunday.

27 military engineering experts were killed and seven others were injured in 2017 as they tried to dismantle landmines in some areas of the clashes between the army and militants, according to Abdussalam Al-Musmari, commander of the army's military engineering unit.

Al-Musmari added that landmines also killed 170 civilians in 2017, with the majority of victims killed in central Benghazi.

Al-Mismari said that the army's general command issued instructions to launch an awareness campaign on landmines using posters in areas where the remaining militants stationed.

An army official told Xinhua that the army has concluded all military actions in Benghazi against extremists groups.

Benghazi, Libya's second largest city and the birthplace of the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi, has witnessed a three-year war between the army led by Gen. Khalifa Haftar and extremist militants.

In June, Haftar announced the takeover of the entire city of Benghazi and the defeat of rival armed groups. However, some militants have remained in the city, using landmines against his army. Enditem