Tripoli, October 27 (RHC)-- Heavy fighting between pro-government forces and militants has claimed the lives of nearly 30 people in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi. A Libyan army spokesperson said on Sunday the clashes resulted in fierce exchanges of fire in different parts of Libya's second-largest city.

The latest casualties bring the death toll since the beginning of the military operations in mid-October to at least 170.

On Wednesday night, the Libyan military forces, backed by armed supporters of former General Khalifa Haftar, entered the flashpoint city of Benghazi for the first time in two months.

Spokesman for Libya's special forces Meloud al-Zewi said that though the new advances are a step forward in the liberation of Benghazi, there is still a long battle ahead of the Libyan army.

The new moves came after Libya’s internationally recognized Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani announced last week that the country’s army and its allied forces were ready to recapture the capital Tripoli and Benghazi.

Libya’s government and elected parliament moved to Tobruk after an armed group from Misrata seized Tripoli and most government institutions in August. The new Tripoli rulers have set up a rival parliament and government not recognized by the international community.