© AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD TURKIALibyan pro-government forces walk next to their vehicle mounted with a machine gun on May 18, 2016 in Abu Grein, south of Libya's third city Misrata, a day after Libya's unity government recaptured the area from the Islamic State (IS) group. four of the Bodies of The organization of the Islamic State (Daash) in a truck in Abu Qurayn About 300 km east of the Libyan capital Tripoli , on May 18, 2016. The UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) forces said on Facebook that they recaptured Abu Grein strategic crossroads, where the coastal highway meets the main road south into the desert interior on May 17, 2016.
Al-Majei said that their forces have extended control of several areas on the outskirts of Tarhuna city, which is located in the northwestern region of Libya.
He explained that their forces captured dozens of soldiers from the army of Field Marshal Khalifa Hafter, and caused many deaths during the fighting throughout the day.
He pointed out that the battles that took place this morning were on the outskirts of Tarhuna, adding that they are on verge of entering this strategic city after intense clashes with the Libyan National Army (LNA).
Meanwhile, activists from inside the city of Tarhuna just confirmed that the clashes had stopped in the administrative borders of the city.
The city has a population of about one million people, and the Tarhuna tribes are among the largest Libyan tribes that have more than 63 tribes including "Awlad Ali, Al-Furjan, Al-Mahdi, Al-Ghurarat, Al-Dawamil, Hammamet, Awlad Hamad, Al-Awamer, Al-Hawatim, and Marghaneh.
The city is about 88 km southeast of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, and it is one of the most important locations near the capital.
Tarhuna was one of the first cities to announce its solidarity with the General Command of the Libyan National Army, led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
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