But for now it remains unclear whether they are simply strengthening their grip on areas around their home city, or laying the foundations for a bigger and more decisive offensive into the heart of western Libya.
But its capture in an offensive that has been telegraphed for weeks could help sway Afghan and Western public opinion and is considered an important step in a broader push to reverse the Taliban's battlefield momentum.
The United Nations and Western countries, fearing widespread death and destruction, have urged the Syrian government to call off an offensive in Aleppo.