Libyan army, reinforced by gunmen loyal to the retired Major General Khalifa Haftar, is facing fierce resistance from Islamic militants on Wednesday in different parts of the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, according to military sources.

Since the early hours of Wednesday, fierce battles have been taking place, using various types of heavy weapons, particularly on the southeastern, western and central parts of the city, where the army has been battling to regain the control of it since the mid October.

"The special forces and the thunderbolt battalion forces are fighting violent battles in the areas of Allaithi and Bo'atni in southeast of city center on the road leading to the airport." said official army spokesperson Colonel Ahmed Al-Mismari.

"The army is fiercely resisted by Islamist militants stationed in different areas of the city." Al-Mismari added.

Since Monday, about 32 people including civilians and army soldiers have been killed in violent street battles between the army and the Islamists in the city center. Also on Wednesday, seven people were killed, according to an official at the Benghazi Medical Center, medical source said.

The army announced on Monday taking control of security camps and headquarters which fell into the hands of Islamists since last July.

The areas of Al-Sabri and Sug Al-Hut downtown on Wednesday witnessed the most violent street clashes since the beginning of the army's attack in mid October.

Street battles also took place in the area in which the main port of the city, naval base, government departments and public markets are located. As a result, the navigation traffic was closed completely in the port of Benghazi, which is the only outlet of commercial movement in the city, especially after the closure of the airport last May.

Since mid October, at least 286 people were killed in fierce street fighting between forces of retired Major General Khalifa Haftar, backed by armed civilian supporters, and Islamist militias, who are dominating the city since July.

Benghazi is the birth place of the uprising of 2011 that toppled Muammar Gaddafi's regime. Since then, the country has been suffering security vacuum due to political division and many rival militias fighting for dominance. Endi

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