Libya loyalists take Sirte bastion from IS

Forces loyal to Libya’s UN-backed government said yesterday they had seized full control of the city of Sirte from the Islamic State group, dealing a major blow to the jihadists, reports AFP from Tripoli. The battle for the city, which was the last significant territory held by IS in Libya, took more than six months and cost the lives of hundreds of loyalist troops. “Our forces have total control of Sirte,” Reda Issa, a spokesman for pro-government forces, told the news agency. “Our forces saw Daesh totally collapse,” he said, using an Arabic acronym for the group.
Forces allied with the country’s unity government launched an offensive to retake the city on May 12, quickly seizing large areas of the city and cornering the jihadists.
But IS put up fierce resistance with suicide car bombings, snipers and improvised explosive devices. The United States started a bombing campaign in August at the request of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) to help local forces recapture the city, seized by jihadists in June 2015.
“Daesh has totally collapsed and dozens of them have given themselves up to our forces,” said a statement on the loyalist forces’ official Facebook page.
Libya descended into chaos following the NATO-backed ousting of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with rival administrations emerging and well-armed militias vying for control of the country’s vast oil wealth.
The infighting and lawlessness allowed extremist groups such as IS to seize several coastal regions, giving the jihadists a toehold on Europe’s doorstep.
The fall of Sirte—Kadhafi’s hometown located 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Tripoli—represents a significant blow to IS, which has also faced a series of setbacks and major assaults in Syria and Iraq.
Iraqi forces are advancing on the IS stronghold of Mosul, while a US-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance said last month they had launched an offensive to retake Raqa, the Syrian capital of the “caliphate” the jihadists proclaimed in 2014.

Libya loyalists take Sirte bastion from IS

Forces loyal to Libyas UN-backed government said yesterday they had seized full control of the city of Sirte from the Islamic State group, dealing a major blow to the jihadists, reports AFP from Tripoli. The battle for the city, which was the last significant territory held by IS in Libya, took more than six months and cost the lives of hundreds of loyalist troops. Our forces have total control of Sirte, Reda Issa, a spokesman for pro-government forces, told the news agency. Our forces saw Daesh totally collapse, he said, using an Arabic acronym for the group. Forces allied with the countrys unity government launched an offensive to retake the city on May 12, quickly seizing large areas of the city and cornering the jihadists. But IS put up fierce resistance with suicide car bombings, snipers and improvised explosive devices. The United States started a bombing campaign in August at the request of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) to help local forces recapture the city, seized by jihadists in June 2015. Daesh has totally collapsed and dozens of them have given themselves up to our forces, said a statement on the loyalist forces official Facebook page. Libya descended into chaos following the NATO-backed ousting of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with rival administrations emerging and well-armed militias vying for control of the countrys vast oil wealth. The infighting and lawlessness allowed extremist groups such as IS to seize several coastal regions, giving the jihadists a toehold on Europes doorstep. The fall of SirteKadhafis hometown located 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Tripolirepresents a significant blow to IS, which has also faced a series of setbacks and major assaults in Syria and Iraq. Iraqi forces are advancing on the IS stronghold of Mosul, while a US-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance said last month they had launched an offensive to retake Raqa, the Syrian capital of the caliphate the jihadists proclaimed in 2014.