TRIPOLI, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Libya's eastern-based army Wednesday clashed with Chadian opposition militants in the southern city of Murzuk, some 900 km south of the capital Tripoli, and lost three soldiers, a military official said.
"Three soldiers were killed as our forces took control of the entire city of Murzuk and seized a number of weapons and vehicles from the Chadian opposition," the official, who declined to be identified, told Xinhua later on the day.
"Dozens of Chadian opposition militants were killed and injured. A number of them were arrested as well," said the official. "The operation was a success after taking over the city of Sabha (largest southern Libyan city)."
The official added that the army would take over the entire southern region soon.
The army, led by General Khalifa Haftar, has been launching a military campaign against terrorism and crime in the south since mid-January.
The army has made significant progress since the beginning of the military action, and also taken over the largest oil field in the country.
