US -backed Libyan forces said Wednesday that they have taken over Islamic State’s headquarters in Sirte, the militants’ final bastion in Libya, breaking a weeks-long stalemate with the help of USA airstrikes.
Advertisement
The fighters from mainly the nearby city of Misrata, who were supported by the United States from the air, said in a Facebook statement on Wednesday “Sirte is returning to Libya” after taking over the large domed convention centre. The militia fighters, who are mainly from the nearby city of Misrata, launched their offensive against ISIS in June.
American special operations troops have for the first time started directly supporting Libyan forces battling the Islamic State group in their key stronghold of Sirte, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.
From an estimated fighting force of some 6,000 men, more than 350 brigade fighters have been killed and at least 1,500 wounded since the campaign to recapture Sirte began.
US Africa Command says it carried out seven strikes on Sirte on Wednesday, targeting trucks mounted with heavy artillery, fighting positions, a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and two supply trucks.
On another hand, a source told Reuters news agency, on Wednesday, that few tens of Italian Special Forces are in Libya to collect information and non-combat support for the Libyan troops and other global forces, including the American and British troops.
Victory in Sirte, the hometown of the late Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, would cement recent gains against Islamic State and deprive the jihadist group of its only base outside Syria and Iraq. In an online statement, Islamic State claimed responsibility for shooting down the plane and killing the pilot.
Libyan forces began their siege of Sirte in May, with the USA beginning airstrikes on targets in the city on Aug 1.
Pentagon officials said they were not part of the U.S. Special Operations force.
The forces had launched an offensive to break IS grip on Sirte, which was helped by U.S. air strikes.
Government forces are battling Daesh in the city of Sirte.
Today, the Pentagon admitted an unspecified number of troops were operating on the ground in Libya. As they pressed into the city, the USA has helped their advance with air strikes.
“We do not need foreign troops on Libyan soil”, Sarraj said.
Pro-GNA forces entered Sirte – 450 km (280 miles) east of Tripoli – in June, after Islamic State seized the city amid the chaos that followed the 2011 ouster of Moammer Gadhafi.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, Western countries including the United States, France and Britain said in a joint statement on Wednesday they were concerned by mounting tension around the Zueitina oil terminal in Libya.
