American special operations troops have for the first time started directly supporting the Libyan forces battling the Islamic State militant group in their key stronghold of Sirte, The Washington Post newspaper reported on Tuesday.
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The fighters said that they had seized control of the sprawling convention center that was used as ISIS’s headquarters in the coastal city.
The fighters are led by brigades from nearby Misrata, who repelled an Islamic State advance south of their city in early May before pushing eastward to Sirte and besieging the militants in the center of the Mediterranean city.
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 Ouagadougou [convention] centre is in our hands”, a spokesman for forces loyal to Libya’s UN-backed government of national accord said. In recent weeks, they have launched an offensive created to break Isil’s grip on Sirte.
The increased US air campaign against the Islamic State to Libya underscores the stakes in a battle against a group that has vowed to strike the West and has attracted recruits from across Africa and the Middle East.
The limited nature and size of US operations around Sirte reflect the delicate balancing act the Obama administration must strike as it seeks to help allied local forces succeed while not undermining the country’s fragile unity government.
Over the last 10 days, the militias have been supported by heavy United States airstrikes, using drones based in Jordan.
Pro-GNA forces entered Sirte in June, but their advance slowed as IS hit back with sniper fire, suicide attacks and auto bombings.
A few dozen men belonging to Italy’s elite special forces are in Libya to collect intelligence, provide non-combat “support” to government-backed forces and help other allies present in Libya, such as British or American special forces, a source said on Wednesday.
Khalifa said 16 pro-government fighters had been killed and more than 70 wounded since the last round of fighting began Wednesday morning. Amaq news agency, which is affiliated to Daesh, said the terrorists have shot down the fighter jet, killing the pilot.
US drones and fighter jets have carried out 36 strikes over Sirte since August 1.
“Our forces today managed to achieve a significant advance”, he said.
Western powers are backing the GNA in a bid to bring stability to Libya, which has been wracked by turmoil since Gaddafi was ousted and killed in October 2011, with rival governments vying for power and armed groups battling to control vast energy resources.
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“The Government of National Accord must work with the National Oil Corporation to relaunch oil production in order to rebuild Libya’s economy”.
