TRIPOLI, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Two of Libya's eastern-based army soldiers were killed on Wednesday by a terrorist sniper in the eastern city of Benghazi, a military official said.

"A terrorist sniper in Ekhrebish area (in central Benghazi) killed assistant commander of the police and protection unit of the special forces, Salem al-Warfalli, and the soldier Mohammed al-Madhak," Miloud al-Zwai, spokesman for the army's special forces, told Xinhua.

"The area surrounded by the army is no more than half a square kilometer. It is a residential area with dense trees, and we have difficulty getting inside it," Al-Zwai said regarding the reason for the recent human losses of the army.

Al-Zwai also pointed out that "such a situation makes the army a target for snipers."

The fighting against extremists in Ekhrebish area in Benghazi killed nine soldiers since the beginning of December, while in November, 10 extremists and 7 army troops were killed.

Benghazi, Libya's second largest city and the birthplace of the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi, has witnessed a three-year war between the army led by General Khalifa Haftar and extremist groups.

Haftar announced earlier in June taking over the entire city of Benghazi and defeating the rival armed groups, however, some militants still remain in the city.