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Libyan govt forces close in on ISIS militants in Sirte
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Forces loyal to Libya’s Government of National Accord said Monday they had seized a new sector near the ISIS’s command center in Sirte.The pro-GNA forces have been engaged in a military operation since May 12 to retake the coastal city located 450 kilometers (280 miles) east of Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... Sirte has been a stronghold of the holy warrior group since June last year. On Monday, the loyalists said they had seized an area of guest houses close to the Ouagadougou conference center, the complex from the era of slain dictator Moamer Qadaffy where the gunnies have their headquarters. The field hospital of the pro-GNA forces near Sirte posted on Facebook that four people among its ranks were killed and 32 maimed on Monday. Pro-GNA forces entered Sirte in June, but their progress slowed as the gunnies hit back with sniper fire, suicide kabooms and boom-mobileings. Since Thursday pro-government forces have been battling to reach the conference center. "Our forces have targeted ISIS snipers and their mines," the statement said, using an Arabic acronym for ISIS. The guest houses are east of the Al-Dollar district, which the pro-GNA forces took last week and where VIP guests attending events at the Ouagadougou complex used to be accommodated. On Sunday, the loyalist forces said they would soon begin a final assault to retake Sirte from ISIS. The United States has since last Monday been carrying out air raids on ISIS positions in the city at the GNA’s request. Posted by: Fred 2016-08-09 |
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