Tripoli: Forces fighting for Libya's internationally recognised government said they regained full control over Tripoli after being besieged for more than a year by militias loyal to an eastern-based renegade commander.
The Government of National Accord (GNA) military operations room said in a statement on Thursday its forces captured all areas surrounding the Tripoli city administrative area.
"Our heroic forces have full control of Greater Tripoli right up to the city limits," said Mohammed Gnounou, a GNA military spokesman.
A military source with the eastern forces, whose base is in the eastern city of Benghazi, told Reuters news agency they were pulling back from all of Tripoli's suburbs.
No official comment was available from LNA forces.
The withdrawal represents a stinging reversal for eastern commander Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army (LNA), which launched an offensive on Tripoli last year pledging to unite Libya after years of chaos.
The military gains come after a series of battlefield victories against Haftar's forces in recent weeks.
GNA troops on Wednesday seized Tripoli's international airport. It has been closed since 2014 and was held by the LNA since last year when Haftar launched his assault on the capital.