The Libyan army said it now backs forces loyal to a former general who launched a new bid Wednesday to recapture second city Benghazi from extremist militias.

The Libyan army said it now backs forces loyal to a former general who launched a new bid Wednesday to recapture second city Benghazi from extremist militias.

"The Libyan army claims 'Operation Dignity'" as one of its own campaigns, spokesman Colonel Ahmed al-Mesmari said, adding, "now it is one operation of the army, among others."

Forces loyal to former general Khalifa Haftar resumed their bid to oust extremist militias from Benghazi Wednesday, four months after launching what they branded "Operation Dignity."

Earlier on Wednesday, a hospital source said at least 12 Libyans were killed in Benghazi during clashes Wednesday between soldiers and extremists.

"At least 12 people have been killed and 10 others wounded since Wednesday morning during the clashes" between forces loyal to Haftar and extremist groups, said the source, who requested anonymity.

For its part, the Benghazi Medical Center gave a toll of nine dead, including three soldiers.

That figure included a father and his three children, killed when gunmen attempted to arrest a member of the family they accused of belonging to Ansar al-Sharia, one of the extremist groups that control Benghazi.

A health ministry official confirmed the nine dead at the Benghazi Medical Center, and said three more dead were at other hospitals.

The violence came after forces loyal to Haftar, including civilians, launched a new bid to retake Benghazi.

A spokesman for Haftar, Mohamed Hijazi, said his forces had captured the headquarters of the "February 17 Martyrs Brigade," another Islamist group, after several hours of combat.