Author Topic: Libyan forces say Islamic State beaten back in Sirte  (Read 306 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline TomSea

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 40,432
  • Gender: Male
  • All deserve a trial if accused
Libyan forces say Islamic State beaten back in Sirte
« on: August 30, 2016, 04:42:59 am »
Huffington Post's article reads 36 Libyan soldiers died in trying to free-up Sirte, Libya.

US helicopter gunships aiding the Libyan military: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-deploys-helicopters-gunshps-battle-against-libya-1006406112 (posted in Military) Hellacious fighting.

Quote
Libyan forces say Islamic State beaten back in Sirte

 By Aidan Lewis | SIRTE, Libya

Libyan forces said they captured a residential neighborhood in central Sirte from Islamic State on Monday, leaving just one district of the city still occupied by the militants.

Spokesman Rida Issa said Sirte's neighborhood Number One was "completely liberated", but added that the brigades, backed by U.S. air strikes, were "in the process of clearing any remnants of Daesh (Islamic State)" from the area.

For more than three months, brigades aligned with Libya's U.N.-backed government have been battling to oust Islamic State from Sirte, a coastal city that the militant group turned into a regional stronghold last year.

The United States began an air campaign over Sirte on Aug. 1, and had by Sunday carried out 92 strikes against Islamic State.


Militants have defended themselves with suicide bombers, snipers and mines, inflicting heavy casualties on brigade fighters. At least six brigade members were killed and 12 wounded on Monday, according to hospital officials.

Read More At: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-security-idUSKCN114278