Libyan army kills seven IS militants

Tripoli: Libyan army forces, backed by air force and artillery, killed seven Islamic State (IS) affiliated militants and captured nine others in the eastern city of Benghazi in Libya, according to a military source.

"Major General Khalifa Haftar, general commander of the Libyan army, issued direct orders to launch a full military operation in Benghazi, involving heavy artillery, air force, and infantry. The army forces managed to progress towards Al-Sabri area," Xinhua news aganecy quoted head of information office of the Libyan Army as saying on Sunday.

"Infantry broke into Al-Noran hotel in Al-Sabri area, killed seven IS affiliated militants and captured nine others, including three foreigners," he said.

Libya has slipped into a state of anarchy and insecurity since Gaddaif`s fall in 2011. The North African country is plagued with continuous clashes and escalating violence.