Forces loyal to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar said Monday they had seized several districts of Derna, promising “imminent liberation” of the last militant bastion in the country’s east.

The spokesman for the Omar al-Mukhtar Operations Room of the self-proclaimed army of Khalifa Haftar, Abdelkarim Sabra, said they are about to liberate Derna in east Libya from what he described as terrorism, adding that their forces will continue military actions throughout all of Libya.

The prominent Egyptian al-Qaeda leader, Omar Suroor, was killed during a series of air raids carried out by the Libyan National Army (LNA) in Derna on Saturday during clashes between the LNA and a faction of the Mujahideen Shura Council.

Libyan National Army general commander announced regaining control over the western Shehha area in Derna on Saturday, saying troops conducted combing sweeps to clear the zone from mines and improvised explosive devices.

The Security Chief of Derna in eastern Libya Yehya Usta Omar has been captured by the rival forces of the self-styled army led by Khalifa Haftar, a photo posted by their loyalist social media showed. 

The United Nations mission in Libya said Tuesday that the deterioration of the situation in Derna has led to a severe shortage of necessities, including food, and medicine.

The Karama Operations Room Commander, Brigadeer Abdul Salam Al-Haassi, said that the Libyan National Army-led (LNA) coalition now control 75 percent of the city of Derna, after recent advances. Speaking yesterday, Al-Hassi said that ‘‘only some pockets remained and were being cleared by the armed forces’’.

The northeastern Libyan city of Derna is witnessing violent outbreaks between the city’s Protection Force and the Karama Forces led by Khalifa Haftar in the latter’s attempt to move forward and control several neighbourhoods in the last remaining opposition stronghold in eastern Libya.

Since July 2017, the eastern Libyan city of Derna has been subject to tight military encirclement. The closure of access points has made it difficult to supply markets, banks and health facilities, which has led to a deteriorating humanitarian situation for those remaining in the city, a report released last …

Libya self-styled army forces advanced into several neighbourhoods in Derna on Monday after stepping up a military campaign to oust rivals from the eastern city, a spokesman for Khalifa Haftar said.