News / North Africa

In battle against Daesh, Libya fighters advance inside Sirte

Tuesday, 02 August 2016 5:35 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 02 August 2016 5:36 PM ]

The photo taken on August 1, 2016, shows forces loyal to Libya's unity government in al-Dollar district in the center of the city of Sirte, the stronghold of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist in Libya. (AFP)

Fighters affiliated with Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) say they have advanced inside the city of Sirte, the stronghold of the Takfiri Daesh terrorists in the North African country.

The fighters said in a statement issued on Tuesday that the central district of al-Dollar was now under their control. The battle for the area left at least five Libyan troops dead and nearly 20 injured.

Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the Libyan unity government, confirmed that US warplanes carried out airstrikes against Daesh in the city. However, it was not clear whether the strikes contributed to the liberation of al-Dollar.

The Pentagon press secretary, Peter Cook, said in a statement that the airstrikes in Sirte "will continue."

It is not the first time that the US military has targeted alleged positions of Daesh in Libya.

In February, a US airstrike targeted a Daesh training camp near Sabratha, west of the Libyan capital Tripoli, leaving about 50 people dead.

Foreign forces from several Western countries, including the United States, France and Britain, are in Libya in a purported fight against Daesh. In May, both Washington and London confirmed the presence of their troops in Libya.

The GNA has denounced the presence of foreign troops, saying it violates Libya's sovereignty.

A handout picture released by the media center of the Government of National Accord (GNA) on August 1, 2016, shows Libya's Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj (C) arriving in the city of Misrata to visit the headquarters of the military command operation to retake the city of Sirte. (AFP)

Sirte, the major stronghold of Daesh outside Iraq and Syria, fell to the Takfiri terrorists in February 2015. The full recapture of the city would be a major boost to the unity government, which has come to office through support from the United Nations.

Daesh has been taking advantage of the chaos that has been embroiling Libya since the NATO-backed overthrow and death of the country's longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

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