Daesh militants on retreat around east Libyan city — military

BENGHAZI, Libya — Military forces in eastern Libya said Daesh militants had retreated from long-held positions around the city of Derna on Wednesday, and were engaged in clashes with troops to the south.

Security forces allied to Libya's eastern government have carried out occasional strikes against Daesh in the area over recent months. The militant group lost control of the port city in June last year by rival Islamists.

Daesh has gained ground in Libya as two rival governments and a range of armed factions battled to control the country in the last two years. But it has also faced resistance from other local armed groups on the ground.

Military spokesman Abdulkarim Sabra said Daesh had retreated from Derna's 400 neighbourhoods and Al Fatayeh, 20km south of the city, and its forces were trying to head towards the militant group's Libyan stronghold of Sirte when they were intercepted.

The military was providing air support for troops, he said. It was not immediately clear if there had been casualties.

Military forces allied to Libya's eastern government have also been involved in heavy fighting in the city of Benghazi where they have taken several neighbourhoods from fighters loyal to Daesh and other groups.

The eastern government was set up after armed opponents took control of the capital, Tripoli, in 2014, and installed a rival administration. Both are backed by alliances of former rebels who once fought together to oust Muammar Qadhafi in 2011 but have slowly turned against each other.