Heavy clashes broke out between Islamic State and army units loyal to the country’s official government near the eastern city of Derna on Friday, killing four soldiers, military officials said.
Three soldiers were also wounded during fighting with Islamic State fighters outside Derna, a city east of Benghazi, military officials said.
The conflict is part of chaos gripping Libya, which has fragmented into two governments and parliaments allied to former rebel groups that helped topple Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Islamic State, which has exploited a security vacuum in the oil producer, has had a base outside Derna, a traditional jihadi hotspot, since a rival group kicked it out of the coastal city in June.
The air force loyal to the internationally recognized government based in the east also attacked suspected Islamist militant targets in Benghazi, a different battle site, air force spokesman Nasser al-Hassi said.
