On the first of this month, Sirte witnessed American air strikes targeted the locations of the Islamic State (IS) in Sirte while the world is fighting the terrorist group in different countries, including Syria and Iraq.
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Last week, the U.S. military conducted airstrikes in Libya to target the Daesh stronghold of Sirte, marking the first time the United States has carried out such operations in the North African country since 2011.
Forces loyal to the GNA have tightened their grip on Sirte pushing ISIS fighters to seek other sanctuaries.
A handout picture uploaded on July 15, 2016 on the official Facebook page of the media center of the forces of Libya’s Government of National Accord’s (GNA) military operation against the Daesh group in Sirte allegedly shows a unity government force tank driving during clashes.
Since the strikes began about a week ago, USA planes have struck nearly 30 militant targets.
Mattia Toaldo, a Libya expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the USA mission in Sirte differed from the French presence in the eastern city of Benghazi, mainly because none of Libya’s feuding political factions would object to attempts to defeat the Islamic State. Separately, Al Jazeera reported that three al Bonyan al Marsous militants were killed and a further 30 injured in fighting in the el Dollar district.
American and Libyan officials told the Post that these members of the special forces are coordinating American airstrikes and providing intelligence information in an effort to oust the group from a militant stronghold.
Citing unnamed officers allied with the Libyan government and Western security officials, the Post also said American and British “personnel” in body armor and wearing military fatigues had been seen in Sirte several times.
Italian media sources said that the Italian Government chose to open its airspaces for the American jets and to use Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily to carry air raids on the IS location in Sirte.
But the insertion of US personnel closer to an intense battle, where the risks are much greater, highlights the importance of the Sirte operation.
Sirte has been a stronghold of the jihadist group since June previous year.
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The United Nations, France, Britain and the USA recognise the GNA as the legitimate government of Libya.
