The Libyan Army said yesterday that Russian mercenaries, who are fighting with the militia of renegade General Khalifa Haftar, planted mines inside and outside houses in the city of Sirte to “obstruct the advance of the army”.

At least seven people were killed Wednesday in landmine explosions in southern Tripoli, a health official said, Anadolu reports.

The Minister of the Interior of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Fathi Bashaga, said on Monday that some actions, which violate human rights, have been committed by members of security institutions.

The United Nations has received “numerous” reports of looting and destruction in two towns outside Tripoli retaken by the forces of Libya’s internationally recognised government, it said on Sunday.

Libya’s UN-recognised unity government retook the town of Tarhuna southeast of Tripoli on Friday, depriving eastern-based strongman Khalifa Haftar of his last redoubt in the west, a spokesman said.

The Libyan Army forces under the command of the Government of National Accord have seized full control of the administrative borders of Greater Tripoli Region, pushing Khalifa Haftar’s forces toward Tarhouna and Urban cities.

Human Rights Watch said that armed groups and fighters under Khalifa Haftar’s command “appear to have used antipersonnel landmines and booby traps in Tripoli in late May 2020.

Libya’s internationally recognised government recaptured Tripoli’s main airport on Wednesday, all but driving an eastern commander’s forces from the capital ahead of what appeared to be moves towards talks on a truce, Reuters reports.

Militias loyal to renegade commander Khalifa Haftar have left 48 corpses behind while fleeing from war zones, the Libyan army said Tuesday.

The Libyan Interior Ministry discussed in a meeting Tuesday mechanisms to recruit individuals from backup forces who have been fighting on and around Tripoli frontlines.