Libya : 19 soldiers dead in 24 hours in eastern city of Benghazi

Officials survey the grounds of the the Moroccan Embassy in Tripoli, Libya after a bomb left in a garbage bin exploded on Monday, April 13, 2015. (Source : AP Photo)

Medical and army officials say a total of 19 soldiers have been killed over the past 24 hours near  the eastern city of Benghazi, where the army is making a new push to retake the city from Islamic militants.

The offensive is primarily targeting the militant stronghold district of al-Laithi, amid reports that army chief Gen. Khalifa Hifter is making a new push to fully retake Benghazi after months of stalemate.Government fighter jets bombed multiple positions overnight and early Thursday morning, a military official said.

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Six bodies arrived at the Benghazi Medical Center, hospital spokesman Khalifa Gwaider said. A second army official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press, said 13 bodies arrived at other area hospitals.