Benghazi: Libya's eastern-based forces announced on Saturday that they had regained control of the Al-Toum border crossing with Niger, just hours after an armed group had claimed to have taken over the facility.

According to Anadolu Agency, gunmen identifying themselves as the 'Revolutionaries of the South' released a video through local media, claiming they had seized the crossing and detained personnel affiliated with the eastern command. In the footage, one of the armed men stated that the takeover aimed to 'correct the course of the Feb. 17 Revolution,' alluding to the 2011 uprising that ousted longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi. He attributed the move to worsening conditions in southern Libya, including fuel shortages and deteriorating public services.

Shortly after the video surfaced, Libyan media broadcasted separate footage showing forces loyal to the eastern military command inside the Al-Toum crossing, confirming that control had been restored. A military officer in the video stated that the crossing and several nearby checkpoints had been attacked by what he described as 'hired gangs.' He added that the assault was repelled by Battalion 676, which operates along the border under the Libyan army's general command.

The officer further explained that the attackers were defeated and forced to flee, suffering casualties. He mentioned that they are being pursued deep into the desert, while armed forces continue sweeping operations along the border strip.

Libya remains divided between two rival administrations: one led by Dbeibeh in Tripoli, controlling the west of the country, and another appointed by the House of Representatives in early 2022, led by Osama Hammad and based in Benghazi, which governs the east and much of the south.