Libyan forces engaged in renewed clashes with Islamic State militants in Sirte on Thursday, a day after capturing a convention complex that had been a symbol of the militant group’s authority in the city.
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The city’s fall to ISIS in June past year raised deep concerns in the West, with fears the jihadists were gaining an important foothold just across the Mediterranean from Europe.
Forces loyal to Libya’s UN-backed unity government made a significant breakthrough Wednesday in their almost three-month-old offensive to retake the city, seizing a conference centre where Daesh had set up a base.
However, seizing control of the city has proven unexpectedly hard for the groups now allied to the United Nations supported government, as an operation originally estimated to last a few days now stretches to fourth months, with several residential areas within Sirte still under the control of the embattled terror group.
“The announcement of the liberation [of Sirte] will only be made once the entire city is liberated”, he told AFP.
Fighters aligned with UN-backed pro-government forces took control of the Ouagadougou Convention Complex, which the IS (Daesh) had been using as a base.
The bodies of two Libyan pilots killed yesterday when their fighter jet crashed in Libya’s coastal city of Sirte were recovered Thursday, according to government sources and hospital officials in the nearby city of Misrata.
GNA chief Fayez al-Sarraj said in an interview published Wednesday that his government had asked only for “air strikes which must be very precise and limited in time and geographical scope”. Issa said the cause of the crash and the fate of the crew could not be confirmed.
Government forces are battling Daesh in the city of Sirte.
Islamic State took advantage of the chaos that followed the ouster and killing of longtime dictator Moammer Gadhafi in 2011.
They have faced determined resistance from the jihadis who have struck back with sniper fire, suicide attacks and auto bombings.
They repelled an ISIL advance south of their city in early May, before pushing eastwards to Sirte.
As of Wednesday, U.S. drones and fighter jets had carried out 29 strikes in Sirte, targeting Islamic State fighting positions, vehicles and armaments, according to statements by U.S. Africa Command.
The US military said 36 strikes had been carried out against IS since the start of “Operation Odyssey Lightning”. The raids targeted ISIS positions, destroyed two armoured vehicles and stopped an explosives-laden auto before it could reach loyalist forces, it said.
Reuters reports that “Libyan brigades in Misrata and Sirte have been working with small teams of Western special forces who have provided intelligence and logistical support as well as strategic advice”.
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The Pentagon announcement came after the Washington Post newspaper revealed that the United States forces are already in Libya to support the GNA troops.
