Forces loyal to Libya’s former army general, Khalifa Haftar, have sealed off the Ras Ajdir border crossing with Tunisia.
Pro-Haftar forces, also loyal to the recognized prime minister, Abdullah al-Thinni, also seized the western area of Bokmash, following fierce clashes on Monday with militias from the self-declared government.
A field commander with the Libya Dawn militants, who counter the elected government and its loyal militants, has said that the retreat is a matter of temporary military tactics and does not mean that Haftar forces have full control over the area.
The armed battle over eastern oil ports and the main border crossing to Tunisia forced closure of the two biggest oil export terminals on December 13.
Dawn forces seized the capital, Tripoli, in August after a month-long battle with rivals and set up their own government and parliament.
Libya has been gripped by militancy and factional fighting since the ouster of the longtime dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, in 2011. The militia groups that helped drive him out are now fighting for power and a share of the oil revenues.
