After fierce battles .. Al-Wefaq forces reinforce their positions at the gates of Tripoli

The forces of the government of the Reconciliation in Libya on Sunday strengthened their positions after fierce battles against the forces of retired brigade Khalifa Hafter on the doors of Tripoli, while the World Health Organization announced the death of 254 people in clashes last week.

Al-Wefaq forces pushed their opponents back into parts of the frontline south of the capital, although the attackers carried out air strikes overnight.

On the fourth of this month, Hafar forces launched an offensive against Tripoli and the forces of the Wifaq government led by Fayez al-Sarraj, without being able to penetrate the southern defenses of the government of Tripoli, which arrived reinforcements from other cities in the Libyan west.

The latest outbreak of violence in the country since the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 threatens to disrupt oil supplies, increase irregular migration across the Mediterranean to Europe, and allow armed groups to exploit chaos.

Escalation of battles
Troops loyal to Tripoli were able to push Hafar's forces back a few kilometers in the southern suburb of Ain Zara, Reuters correspondents told Reuters.

Correspondents were able to travel several kilometers further south, which they could reach when they visited the same line a few days ago.

The fighting intensified on Saturday after a counter-offensive by government forces that made progress, especially in Ain Zara in the southern suburb of Tripoli.

But Ahmad al-Mismari, a spokesman for Hafar's forces, did not acknowledge the loss of positions. He accused the "enemy" of receiving reinforcements from "al-Qaeda terrorists, the organization of the Islamic state and foreign mercenaries."

The front was quiet. "After a long day of military successes, our forces are strengthening their new positions," Mustafa al-Majai, military spokesman for the government, told AFP.

And night, I heard loud explosions from downtown. Witnesses spoke of air raids and drone attacks on the capital.

Al-Mujaimi said it was a helicopter strike with Hafar forces equipped with night-vision equipment to "intimidate civilians." There were no casualties.

Military sources said that the old Russian fighters on both sides - Meg or Sukhoi - were not equipped to strike at night.

Warning and trouble
UN envoy in Libya Ghassan Salama this week warned of a "total deterioration" in the oil-rich country, which has been embroiled in chaos and power struggles since Gaddafi's fall.

Diplomatically, the impasse continues in the UN Security Council, where Britain, with the support of Germany and France, unsuccessfully tried to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire and the opening of unconditional humanitarian corridors in the conflict zones.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said 254 people were killed and more than 1,200 injured in clashes in the capital.

The WHO said on its Twitter page that emergency medical teams had conducted about 150 surgical operations. She said her medical teams were helping these hospitals.